Omaha World-Herald news article
SEWARD, Neb. – After making another strong push for a GPAC championship, the Concordia University women’s soccer program pulled in additional postseason honors, as announced by the Omaha World-Herald on Saturday (Dec. 22). Five Bulldogs landed themselves on the 17-member All-Nebraska state college women’s soccer team: seniors Maria Deeter and Lauren Martin, junior Brynn Suddeth and sophomores Lindsey Carley and Tori Cera.
Four others from head coach Greg Henson’s 2018 squad were tabbed honorable mention All-Nebraska: senior Ashley Martin, sophomore Michaela Twito and freshmen Mikeila Martinez and Cheyenne Smith.
It’s safe to say that no other player in program history has collected such a wealth of awards in one season. Deeter’s 2018 honors include recognition as an NAIA honorable mention All-American, CoSIDA Academic All-District and All-America selection, first team All-GPAC, team MVP and United Soccer Coaches All-Plains Region and Scholar All-American. This past season, Deeter turned in a career high 14 goals (four game winners) to go along with six assists over 18 games (17 starts). The Lincoln Lutheran High School product did all that damage despite missing essentially four games due to a late season injury. 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.
Lauren Martin earned back-to-back second team All-GPAC awards in her final two seasons as a Bulldog. Also an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and an All-Plains Region selection, Martin was one of the nation’s assists leaders all fall. She topped the GPAC with her school record 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.
Carley, the 2017 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year, has earned all-conference accolades in each of her two seasons as Concordia’s starting keeper. She was also a CoSIDA Academic All-District and All-Plains Region choice and an NAIA Scholar-Athlete. 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.
Cera moved up to the first team of the 2018 GPAC honor roll 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.
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.
Ashely Martin (second team), Smith (honorable mention) and Twito (honorable mention) were also All-GPAC performers. A native of Fairfield, Calif., Martinez started 17 of 20 games in her rookie season on the collegiate scene.
All-Nebraska state college women’s soccer team
F: Rhiannon Castle de Ortega, Sr., Hastings
F: Nayeli Rodriguez, Jr., Midland
F: Berkley Sharp, So., Hastings
F: Christina Stasi, Sr., Wayne State
F: Brynn Suddeth, Jr., Concordia
M: Maria Deeter, Sr., Concordia
M: Reyvin Hernandez, Sr., Bellevue
M: Lauren Martin, Sr., Concordia
M: PT Perez, Jr., Midland
M: Jenny Sells, Sr., Hastings
D: Tori Cera, So., Concordia
D: Marley Farrell, Jr., Midland
D: Alaina Melanson, Jr., Midland
D: Laurie Potvin, So., Hastings
D: Molly Willis, Jr., UNK
G: Lindsey Carley, So., Concordia
* G: Rachel Thigpen, So., Midland
*Honorary captain
Honorable mention: Bellevue: Mai Dar, Saskia Pepel. Concordia: Ashley Martin, Mikeila Martinez, Cheyenne Smith, Michaela Twito. Doane: Kiarra Colson, Bailey Sloup. Hastings: Kaylie Agostine, Josie Knapp, Janine Lahey, Sally Stoltenberg. Midland: Hannah Stewart, Harlee Zancanelli. Nebraska Wesleyan: Laurel Heskett, Shannon Jerram, Kaitlyn Sullivan. St. Mary: Madaline Angel, Kennedy Cascio, Elli McMeekin. UNK: Ciera Clark, Allie Prososki, Tori Weber. Wayne State: Sophiea Ketchmark, Megan Phillips, Natalie Rech, Alexis Strothers. York: Breanna Bembenek, Stephanie Dye, Amber Jimenez, Justine Medina, Carmen Zavala.