SEWARD, Neb. – A key part of the Concordia University men’s soccer back line, senior Florian Caraballo has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday (Oct. 24). The Bulldogs have claimed a total of six GPAC weekly awards this fall. Four different players have combined for those six honors.
A native of Cordoba, Spain, Caraballo helped limit last week’s opponents to one combined goal in wins over Midland and Dordt. Caraballo contributed an assist in the double overtime win in Fremont and then notched his first career goal three days later in Sioux Center, Iowa. With the victory at Midland, Concordia eclipsed a school record for most wins in a single season.
Caraballo earned first team all-conference accolades last season while starting all 20 games. Caraballo and company rank fifth nationally in terms of fewest goals allowed per game (0.69). The Bulldogs have recorded eight shutouts, including four in conference play, this season.
Concordia (14-1-1, 7-1 GPAC) will host No. 8 Hastings (13-3, 7-0 GPAC) at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday. A win would clinch at least a share of the GPAC regular-season title for the Bulldogs. Conference tournament action will begin with the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
GPAC players of the week in 2017
Oct. 24 – Florian Caraballo
Oct. 3 – Jack Bennett / Micah Lehenbauer
Sept. 19 – Jack Bennett / Lewis Rathbone
Sept. 5 – Jack Bennett