SEWARD, Neb. – All-conference performers on the field, seniors Micah Lehenbauer and Lewis Rathbone also excel in the classroom. Both Bulldogs landed on the 2017 United Soccer Coaches NAIA/NCCAA Men’s All-America Team, as announced by the coaches’ organization on Friday (Dec. 8).
The exclusive Scholar All-America Team includes 11 players from around the nation. Lehenbauer and Rathbone were the only GPAC representatives to earn distinction on the team.
Lehenbauer, who calls Kathleen, Ga., home, was also tabbed a second team All-Plains Region choice by the United Soccer Coaches this week. He shared the team goal scoring lead with 12, a number that ranked fourth best among GPAC players. Lehenbauer moved up to the first team All-GPAC accolades this season after collecting second team honors as a junior. Over 76 career games played as a Bulldog, Lehenbauer totaled 27 goals and seven assists. He posted three game-winning goals in 2017. He turned in a hat trick in the Sept. 26 win over Mount Marty.
Rathbone, who hails from Manchester, England, flourished in more of an attacking role this fall. He tallied 11 of his 12 goals over the first nine games of this season. He added a goal in the GPAC semifinal victory at Northwestern. Rathbone also chipped in seven assists for the conference’s third most prolific goal scoring team. Over three seasons as a Bulldog, Rathbone recorded 19 goals and 15 assists in 55 games.
Head coach Jason Weides’ team finished 2017 at 16-3-1 overall and advanced to the conference tournament championship game for the third-straight season. Eight Bulldogs were then tabbed with GPAC all-conference honors.