Women’s soccer welcomes Seward native Maria Deeter as part of eight-member recruiting class

SEWARD, Neb. – Eight current high school seniors are set to join Concordia University head women’s soccer coach Greg Henson’s program this coming fall. The list of 2015 recruits (see below) includes Seward native Maria Deeter, an all-state performer at Lincoln Lutheran High School. Three of the newcomers hail from Nebraska while two call Colorado home and one apiece come from Arizona, Illinois and Minnesota.

The new group of Bulldogs will be integrated into a program that reached new heights in 2014, breaking the school record for victories, winning the GPAC tournament title and advancing to the national tournament for the first time ever. The incoming class will help fill the void left by seven seniors that anchored the 2014 roster.

Henson is looking forward to welcoming the eight new Bulldogs this fall.

 “The 2015 recruiting class as a whole is a very strong class and one that we are looking to make an immediate and positive impact on the program,” Henson said. “It will be difficult to replace the seven seniors we lost to graduation but I believe that we’ve recruited eight quality student-athletes to do just that and then some. We have players coming in this fall from some top club programs and I’m excited to welcome these players to campus next fall. As we continue to build off of our success from last season, this is definitely an exciting time to be a Bulldog.”

Deeter, a first team Lutheran All-American, figures to make an immediate impact for a program that started three freshmen last season in Henson’s second year at the helm of the program. Deeter provides Concordia with the ability to fill any number of the slots left open by the departing senior class.  Although described as an all-around player, Bulldog fans can expect to find Deeter somewhere in the midfield next fall.

“Maria comes to Concordia with a strong soccer background growing up playing within one of the strongest club programs in Nebraska at Omaha FC,” Henson said. “Deeter is a quality soccer player and very capable of playing just about anywhere on the field. She’s that type of player that makes everyone around her better. When you have a player with her talent level in your own backyard you can’t allow them to get away to another school. It will be exciting to see this Seward native wearing Bulldog Blue next fall.”

The 2015 Concordia women’s soccer team will report to preseason camp in mid-August. 

2015 CONCORDIA WOMEN’S SOCCER RECRUITS

Kaylee Brown
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colo.
High School: Fossil Ridge
Club Teams: Colorado Storm Academy
Parents: Mike and Sandy Brown
-Lettered and started as a sophomore & junior at Fossil Ridge
-Led the Sabercats to state playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014 and a 2014 conference title
-Member of National Society of High School Scholars
-AP Scholars Award 

Maria Deeter
Hometown: Seward, Neb.
High School: Lincoln Lutheran
Club Team: Omaha FC Elite
Parents: Chris and Tammy Deeter
-As a junior, earned First Team Lutheran All-America, all-city and all-state honors
-On track to finish high school career as a four-year letter winner and four-year starter
-Team captain
-Led the Warriors to a district title and state tournament appearance as a sophomore
-Member of the high honor roll

Ashley Martin
Hometown: Longmont, Colo.
High School: Silver Creek
Club Team: Colorado Rush Soccer Club
Parents: Scott and Katie Martin
-Lettered in each of first three varsity seasons; started for two
-Earned all-conference recognition as a junior and honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore
-Team captain
-Member of the National Honor Society 

Leah Mussell
Hometown: Buffalo, Minn.
High School: Buffalo
Club Team: STMA United
Parents: August and Lori Mussell
-On track to letter all four years and start for three at the varsity level
-Named honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore
-Three-time academic all-conference honoree
-Earned academic all-state recognition in track and field
-Sister Rachel is a current Concordia senior and four-year member of the soccer team; brother Andrew is a sophomore and plays for the Bulldog men’s soccer team

Maddie Otten
Hometown: Norfolk, Neb.
High School: Norfolk Public
Club Teams: Nebraska Select Soccer Club
Parents: Aaron and Rebecca Otten
-Lettered and started each of first three varsity seasons
-Earned academic all-conference as a junior
-Team captain
-Member of honor roll (top 10 percent of class) 

Hannah Sain
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
High School: Lincoln Lutheran
Club Team: LSC Panthers
Parents: Rod and Laurie Sain
-On track to be a four-year letter winner and four-year starter
-Team captain
-Honorable mention all-state (Omaha World-Herald)
-Led the Warriors to a district title and state playoff appearance in 2013
-Member of honor roll 

Michaela Stevens
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.
High School: Red Mountain
Club Team: Scottsdale Blackhawks ’97 Burke
Parents: Mike and Sonya Stevens
-Named all-city in each of first three seasons
-Three-time varsity letter winner
-Led Mountain Lions to the state tournament as a freshman
-Member of Arizona Soccer Showcase championship team
-Plays for 97 Blackhawks club team, which has reached the state finals four-straight years (2011-14)
-Team captain as a senior
-Member of the National Honor Society and Dean’s list all four years
-Selected to the National Young Leaders State Conference and as Student Ambassador in Athletics and Academics for People to People

Kaitlyn Stradtmann
Hometown: Rockford, Ill.
High School: Rockford Lutheran
Club Team: Rock Run Soccer Club
Parents: Brad and Amy Stradtmann
-Has started each of first three varsity soccer seasons
-Junior year honors included unanimous all-conference selection, second team All-America and scholar athlete
-Team captain
-High honor roll member