Mussell collects Capital One Academic All-America honor

SEWARD, Neb. – A three-time Capital One Academic All-District® honoree, senior Rachel Mussell has now earned her first career All-America award. As announced by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Mussell has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America® Women’s Soccer Second Team of the College Division.

The two-time first team all-conference selection has been a major factor in the Bulldogs claiming their first ever-GPAC tournament title to clinch their first-ever national tournament bid that led to their first-ever national ranking. With Mussell stifling attacks in the back, Concordia has piled up a program record 15 wins and 12 shutouts in 2014. Over their last 13 games, the Bulldogs are 9-0-4 with eight shutouts and only five combined goals allowed.

The Buffalo, Minn., native, who is the only GPAC player to be named an academic All-American, moved to center back in the spring after leading the Bulldogs in goals during her sophomore and junior seasons. The Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete has 26 career goals (career high 14 in 2012) over 75 games since beginning her collegiate career in 2011. Mussell is a secondary education (physical science) major.

The Capital One Academic All-America® College Division soccer teams are comprised of student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian and two-year institutions.

Senior forward Melissa Stine joined Mussell on the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District® 3 Women’s Soccer College Division team. District 3 of the College Division covers institutions in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

2014 Capital One Academic All-America® College Division Women’s Soccer Teams

FIRST TEAM
GK – Morgan Lynn (2) (#), Saint Ambrose
D – Kathleen Dankbar, Saint Ambrose
D – Courtney Harrison, Spring Arbor
D – Annie Kessler (2), Ottawa
D – Lydia Storms (1), Clarke
M – Melissa Loretto, Trinity International
M – Amanda Roden (1), Taylor
M – Lindsey White, Reinhardt
F – Mallory Rondeau, Grace
F – Rachel Shmagranoff, Purdue Calumet
F – Andrea Skjold Froshaug, Embry-Riddle (Fla.)

SECOND TEAM
GK – Linfah Jones, William Carey
D – Rachel Mussell, Concordia (Neb.)
D – Allie Preston, Oklahoma Baptist
D – Lauren Satcher, William Carey
D – Kate Wiegman, Cornerstone
M – Maggie Hair, Benedictine
M – Kaitlin Phillips, Cumberland
M – Autumn Surage, Ottawa
F – Ashley Parent, Madonna
F – Nicole Pirie, Grand View
F – Bethany Smith, Benedictine 

Academic All-America® of the Year:  Amanda Roden, Taylor

(1) – Capital One Academic All-America® first team selection in 2013
(2) – Capital One Academic All-America® second team selection in 2013
(#) – Capital One Academic All-America® third team selection in 2012