All-GPAC
First Team
Tori Cera
Maria Deeter
Second Team
Lindsey Carley
Ashley Martin
Lauren Martin
Brynn Suddeth
Honorable Mention
Cheyenne Smith
Michaela Twito
SEWARD, Neb. – Six representatives from the Concordia University women’s soccer program landed on either the first or second teams of the all-conference honor roll released on Monday (Nov. 12) by the GPAC. Senior Maria Deeter and sophomore Tori Cera both picked up first team accolades. This marks the third year in a row that Deeter has found her way on the first team.
Sixth-year head coach Greg Henson’s program also raked in four second team All-GPAC awards, which went to sophomore Lindsey Carley, seniors Ashley Martin and Lauren Martin and junior Brynn Suddeth. Freshman Cheyenne Smith and sophomore Michaela Twito garnered honorable mention.
It's no surprise that Deeter is again a first team selection. She was also a candidate for the GPAC Offensive Player of the Year award. She turned in a career high 14 goals (four game winners) to go along with six assists over 18 games (17 starts). The Seward native did all that damage despite missing essentially four games due to a late season injury. The accolades are mounting for Deeter, who was also a second team All-GPAC choice as a freshman and has been tabbed to the All-Plains Region team three times by the United Soccer Coaches. Over 81 career games, Deeter produced 37 goals and 27 assists while leading the program to a GPAC tournament title in 2016 and a GPAC regular-season championship in 2017.
Cera moved up to the first team after being named honorable mention as a freshman in 2017. In the heat of the season, Cera moved to center back this fall and immediately starred in the role. She helped pave the way to a GPAC tournament title game appearance by aiding in postseason shutout wins over Morningside and No. 17 Midland. She also continued to contribute offensively, putting up five goals and three assists while starting all 21 games. The Las Vegas, Nev., native has notched 10 goals and eight assists in 42 games as a Bulldog. Cera picked up the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week award on Nov. 6.
Carley, the 2017 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year, has now earned all-conference accolades in each of her two seasons as Concordia’s starting keeper. The Urbandale, Iowa, native started 20 games this season and played more than 1,880 minutes. She made 75 saves, recorded six shutouts and posted a save percentage of .789 and a goals against average of 0.957. In her career, Carley has a record of 24-3-9 and has notched 13 shutouts over 37 games.
Ashley Martin, who hails from Longmont, Colo., has now earned second team all-conference honors for the third time in her career. A key figure in each of her four seasons as a Bulldog, Martin starred for a back line that helped her team allow less than a goal per game in 2018. She registered three assists this season. In her career, Martin produced three goals and eight assists over 73 games.
The twin sister of Ashley, Lauren Martin has been placed on the GPAC’s second team for the second year in a row. Also an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Martin was one of the nation’s assists leaders all fall. She topped the GPAC with her 16 assists. She also added 10 goals as part of a career year. A three-year member of the team who transferred from St. Cloud State University (Minn.), Martin amassed 18 goals and 24 assists in her 63 career games at Concordia.
A transfer from Allen Community College, Suddeth (“Suds”) provided a boost on the attack in her first season with the Bulldogs. She contributed 12 goals (one game winner) and four assists. The native of Wichita, Kan., produced a hat trick on three separate occasions and was named the GPAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 9.
Originally a goalkeeper in preseason camp, Smith transitioned to center back and made a fluid transition to the collegiate game. She scored both of her two goals this season in the win over McPherson College (Kan.) and also added an assist while serving as standout in the back. In the midfield, Twito again offered solid performances while starting 16 games. The Ames, Iowa, native has twice been named a GPAC honorable mention award winner. She contributed two goals this season.