2023 All-GPAC Men’s Soccer Teams
First Team: Ferdi Hagen; Carter Hinman; Matt Schultz.
Second Team: Nolan Fuelberth; Jarrod Henson; Isaiah Shaddick; Braden Spath.
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Mendoza.
SEWARD, Neb. – A group of eight Bulldogs represented the Concordia University Men’s Soccer program on the list of 2023 Great Plains Athletic Conference all-conference selections announced on Monday (Nov. 13). First team accolades went to freshman midfielder Ferdi Hagen, junior forward Carter Hinman and fifth-year Bulldog defender Matt Schultz. The four second team honorees from Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad were sophomore goalkeeper Nolan Fuelberth, junior midfielder Jarrod Henson, fifth-year Bulldog forward Isaiah Shaddick and senior defender Braden Spath. In addition, junior keeper Gabriel Mendoza garnered honorable mention status.
The eight all-conference awards equal the total generated by the 2022 team that celebrated a GPAC tournament championship. Repeat honorees from 2022 include Mendoza, Schultz and Shaddick.
A native of Gretna, Neb., Hinman has put together a breakthrough 2023 season. He leads the team with 10 goals (tied for the fourth most in the GPAC) and 22 points (two assists). Five of the goals have been game winners. Hinman produced both Concordia goals in the 2-1 win at Bellevue University on Sept. 5. The Gretna High School product has paced the team in goals despite missing three games due to injury. Hinman has appeared in 43 games during his Bulldog career.
Schultz returned for a fifth year of college soccer this fall and moved up to the GPAC’s first team after garnering second team honors in 2022. The Lincoln Southwest High School alum is the lone Bulldog to have started all 18 games this season. The back line stalwart notched a goal as part of the 5-1 win at Doane in the regular season finale. Schutlz has played in 71 games and has tallied seven goals in his Concordia career.
Upon arriving from his hometown of Berlin, Germany, Hagen moved into a starting role. Hagen has started 12 games while appearing in 15 contests in the midfield. Hagen has recorded one goal and three assists on the year. Hagen’s goal came as part of the 7-0 home win over McPherson College (Kan.).
While splitting the keeper role with Mendoza, Fuelberth allowed just eight goals over his 10 games (900 minutes). Also a Lincoln Southwest graduate, Fuelberth sports a 6-1-3 record with a goals against average of 0.80 and save percentage of .733. The Northern Illinois University transfer has collected four shutouts and 22 saves. Fuelberth’s performance has helped the Bulldogs rank 13th nationally in goals against average (0.72).
The Sydney, Australia, native Henson has continued to take on a larger role as his career has progressed. This fall, Henson has played in all 18 games with 13 starts. He has tallied one goal and four assists in 2023. Henson has played in 50 games as a Bulldog.
Shaddick had been enjoying a fine season before injuries limited him in the latter third of the regular season. Another of the Lincoln Southwest alums, Shaddick has registered three goals and a team high six assists in his fifth year as a Bulldog. An impact player for the entirety of his career, Shaddick has totaled 20 goals and 19 assists in 81 games at Concordia. Shaddick is also a three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Spath has earned his first career all-conference award as part of a strong back line. The Kearney High School alum has played in 17 games (15 starts) this fall and has produced two goals and an assist. Spath has appeared in 54 games throughout his Concordia career. Spath and the back line have collaborated to limit opponents to only 108 shots in 18 games.
Mendoza has received honorable mention status for the second year in a row. Mendoza has started eight games this fall as part of the tandem with Fuelberth. He owns a 7-0-1 record and has surrendered just five goals over 720 minutes of action. Mendoza owns a goals against average of 0.62 and a save percentage of .688. He has made 11 saves and has recorded four shutouts. Mendoza ranks second in the GPAC for goals against average.
Head Coach Jason Weides has guided the 2023 Bulldogs to a 13-1-4 overall record. Concordia went undefeated during the regular season, an achievement that had never before been accomplished in program history. The Bulldogs have been ranked as high as 18th in the NAIA coaches’ poll.