SEWARD, Neb. – A clean sheet in last week's season opener has led to Concordia University goalkeeper Federico Simonetti being named the GPAC Hauff Mid-America Sports Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday (Aug. 30). This marks the second time in his career that Simonetti has garnered the player of the week award. Simonetti has also been honored as a 2020 Second Team All-GPAC performer and is on track to earn NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition.
A native of Crema, Italy, Simonetti got the start in goal in the season opener and made three saves over the 90-minute shutout. Simonetti and company walked away with a 1-0 victory over Cascade Collegiate Conference member Northwest University (Wash.) in a game played in Salem, Ore., on Aug. 25. Now in his third season inside the program, Simonetti has appeared in 23 games while making 21 starts. As the team’s primary keeper in 2020, Simonetti posted a goals against average of 1.070.
Simonetti and the Bulldogs (1-1) will continue nonconference action with a trip to Hillsboro, Kan., on Saturday for an 8:30 p.m. CT matchup with Tabor College.