SEWARD, Neb. – A major factor in the Concordia University men’s soccer team’s run to the conference tournament championship game, senior Florian Caraballo has been named the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks. The program has pulled in seven GPAC weekly awards this fall.
Caraballo and the Bulldog backline has made the 2017 team one of the toughest to score upon in the nation. Concordia is allowing only 0.74 goals per game, ranking 12th best among all NAIA men’s soccer teams. Last week Caraballo and company limited Briar Cliff and Northwestern to one combined goal while claiming GPAC quarterfinal and semifinal victories. A native of Cordoba, Spain, Caraballo assisted on the game-winning goal in the 87th minute versus Briar Cliff. Caraballo has recorded one goal and six assists while starting 18 games.
Tenth-year head coach Jason Weides’ squad will attempt to claim its second GPAC tournament title in three seasons when it goes head-to-head with No. 6 Hastings (17-3) at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday. The Broncos have earned the right to host the title game as the conference’s regular-season champion. The winner will receive an automatic berth to the national championships.
GPAC players of the week in 2017
Nov. 7 – Florian Caraballo
Oct. 24 – Florian Caraballo
Oct. 3 – Jack Bennett / Micah Lehenbauer
Sept. 19 – Jack Bennett / Lewis Rathbone
Sept. 5 – Jack Bennett