SEWARD, Neb. – The United Soccer Coaches rewarded the Concordia University women’s soccer program with two first-team selections and one second-team choice on the NAIA All-Plains Region Team announced this week. A first team honoree, senior Maria Deeter made her fourth-straight appearance on the all-region squad. She was joined by teammates in sophomore defender Tori Cera (first team) and senior midfielder Lauren Martin (second team) with all-region honors.
There have been a steady stream of honors pouring in this week for Deeter, who was tabbed a CoSIDA Academic First Team All-American on Monday and an NAIA honorable mention All-American on Tuesday. 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 Seward native 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. She is a three-time first time all-conference selection.
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.
Martin earned back-to-back second team All-GPAC awards in her final two seasons as a Bulldog. Also an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, 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.
Head coach Greg Henson’s 2018 squad made it five-straight GPAC championship game appearances for the program. The Bulldogs concluded the year with a 13-3-5 overall mark.