2023 CSC Academic All-America Women’s Soccer Teams
SEWARD, Neb. – Another major award has come forth for one of the all-time greats in Concordia University Women’s Soccer history. On Wednesday (Dec. 20), College Sports Communicators (CSC) recognized Grace Soenksen as a 2023 Second Team Academic All-American. Soenksen joins former Bulldogs Lindsey Carley (2020), Maria Deeter (2018) and Rachel Mussell (2014) as Academic All-Americans in the women’s soccer program’s history.
The 2023 Academic All-America® Women's Soccer Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in order to be nominated for this award. Nominees also had to meet specific requirements in terms of games played and games started during the 2023 season. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender.
The list of honors this fall for Soenksen has included GPAC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-GPAC and NAIA Scholar-Athlete distinction. The Lincoln Lutheran High School alum played in 92 games over her five collegiate seasons and led the 2020 squad to a GPAC tournament title. Soenksen accomplished something no other Bulldog ever had – earn four first team all-conference awards. Soenksen garnered such recognition while holding down a spot at center back throughout her career. This past season, Soenksen served as a major reason why Concordia limited its foes to 16 goals over 20 games. Soenksen contributed six goals over the course of her impressive career. Soenksen earned her degree from Concordia in Conservation Biology with minors in Environmental Science and Geography.
Grace Soenksen career highlights:
· Five career All-GPAC awards; only player in program history to be named First Team All-GPAC four times.
· 2023 GPAC Defensive Player of the Year.
· 2023 Academic All-District / Second Team All-America, as selected by College Sports Communicators.
· Career stats: 92 games played, 6 goals.
· Member of 2020 GPAC tournament championship team.