2026 GPAC Women’s Soccer All-Conference Teams
GPAC Defender of the Year: Evie Keller
First Team: Evie Keller; Charli Preister; Guadulupe Sanchez; Addie Snyder
Second Team: Avery Black; Abby Haynes; Aaliyah Matthews
Honorable Mention: Triniti Rowe
SEWARD, Neb. – As one of three teams to share the 2026 GPAC regular season championship, Concordia University, Nebraska Women’s Soccer collected a slew of all-conference awards. Most notably, sophomore Evie Keller garnered GPAC Defender of the Year accolades. She was joined on the all-conference first team by sophomores Charli Preister and Guadulupe Sanchez and freshman Addie Snyder. Additional all-conference selections include second teamers in senior Avery Black, sophomore Abby Haynes and junior Aaliyah Matthews and honorable mention selection in junior Triniti Rowe.
Head Coach Jason Weides’ squad stands at 10-4-3 overall. At 9-1-1 in GPAC regular season play, the Bulldogs tied with Hastings and Morningside atop the league standings. Thanks to the results of the conference tournament, Concordia earned the conference’s second automatic bid and will be headed to the national tournament.
A Grand Island Northwest High School alum, Keller played in the midfield as a freshman in 2025 before making the transition to center back in 2026. Keller has started all 17 games this season along the back line, serving as a force for a team that has limited opponents to 1.0 goal per game. In conference games only, Keller and company surrendered only six goals in 11 games while recording seven shutouts. Keller’s one goal this season came as part of the 2-2 draw with Dakota Wesleyan. She has started 32 games over her first two collegiate seasons. Keller leads the team with 1,481 minutes played this season. Previously, the program’s GPAC Defensive Players of the Year were Lindsey Carley in 2017 and Grace Soenksen in 2023.
As a sophomore, Preister has shown her versatility in excelling on the back line and as a forward. Weides refers to Preister as the top player in the conference when the ball is in the air. On the season, the Columbus, Neb., native has started 16 games (17 games played) and has frequently teamed up with Keller on the back line. When moved to a striker role for the matchup with Northwestern in late October, Preister responded with two goals and one assist. She has posted three goals this season. Over her first two collegiate seasons (37 games), Preister has tallied eight goals and an assist.
Up top, Sanchez enjoyed a breakout second season. A Grand Island native and high school teammate of Keller, Sanchez leads the team with 10 goals and 24 points. She has also added four assists. Sanchez moved up to the conference’s first team after garnering second team status in 2025. This season, Sanchez produced two goals apiece in wins over Briar Cliff and Midland. Among GPAC players, Sanchez ranks fourth in goals scored. Over her two seasons at Concordia, Sanchez has amassed 17 goals and eight assists in 36 games (25 starts).
A rookie out of Kearney High School, Snyder became an immediate starter as a defensive midfielder. She’s played in all 17 games with 16 starts. Snyder was recognized as the GPAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6 after she contributed to shutout wins over College of Saint Mary and Briar Cliff. Snyder also chipped in with a goal apiece in wins over Dordt and Waldorf.
As an outside back, Black won a full-time starting role and has provided steady play in 2026. She’s started all 17 games and has played the second most minutes (1,460) of any Bulldog. The Elkhorn South High School product scored both of her goals in the win at Waldorf. Over three seasons at Concordia, Black has appeared in 58 games (31 starts) and has notched two goals and two assists. She was part of the 2024 team that captured the program’s first ever national tournament win and is an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
A Columbus native and high school teammate of Preister, Haynes has put together a strong sophomore season of her own. After missing the early road trip to Oklahoma, Haynes returned to the lineup and became an offensive force, supplying seven goals and a team-high six assists (tied with Molli Kalsbeck) this season. Haynes has started 14 games as a forward. Her seven goals have been spread across seven different games. In 34 career games, Haynes has tallied eight goals and nine assists.
A Millard North High School product, Matthews returned from the injury she endured in 2025 and took hold of the goalkeeper position. She has started 14 of 17 games and sports an 8-3-2 record with four shutouts. Among GPAC keepers, Matthews ranks third in goals against average (0.87) and fourth in save percentage (.807). Her season high of eight saves came in the 1-0 win at Mount Marty. Over two seasons as a Bulldog, Matthews has compiled 63 saves and owns a 0.97 goals against average.
Like Haynes, Rowe was slowed at the start of this season due to injury. She quickly returned to make a significant impact along a stellar backline. She’s played in 16 games (10 starts) and has been a force on set pieces. Rowe has posted a goal and seven assists. Her goal came in the win at Waldorf. She collected two assists apiece in the matchups with Dakota Wesleyan and Northwestern. Rowe is now a two-time GPAC All-Conference honoree after being named to the first team in 2025. She’s played in 55 games (44 starts) over three seasons as a starter.
Weides’ team will await Friday’s NAIA National Championship Selection Show to find out where it will be headed for first round action at the national tournament. The NAIA National Championship will begin with the first round on Nov. 19. For more details, check out the NAIA women’s soccer championship page HERE.