2015-16 Stories of the Year (No. 3): Soccer sweeps NACC titles

MEQUON, Wis. – The 2015-16 athletic year saw more memorable moments from Concordia University Wisconsin athletic teams. As in years past, the Department of Athletic Communications tries to sort through all the great moments and give you, the fans, the top stories from the past athletic year.

The list of stories was compiled by the Department of Athletic Communications and, like all lists, is subject to debate. The top stories will be revealed over the next six weeks, with a story being released each Tuesday (exception: none on July 5). The top story of the year will be released July 26.

No. 3

Men's and Women's Soccer capture NACC titles

The Concordia University Wisconsin Soccer programs had a banner year during the fall of 2015. Entering the year, neither had captured a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference championship since the league began in the fall of 2006.

That would change for both programs in 2015, each winning the regular season title outright. On the women's side the Falcons posted a perfect 10-0 record in conference play. The Falcons impressed on the men's side as well, posting a 9-1 record for their league championship.

The CUW Women's Soccer program was dominant en route to the perfect NACC regular season. The Falcons outscored opponents 38-2 over the 10 league games, posting eight shutouts in the process. As a result of their efforts, the Falcons had a NACC-record seven players named First Team All-Conference.

In addition, CUW captured three of the four major awards in the NACC. Ryan Middendorf was named the Coach of the Year, while Faith Palmreuter was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year and Josie Dombrowski the Freshman of the Year. The Falcons also landed three players on the NSCAA Second Team All-Region in Carley Pfannerstill, Emily Ciesielczyk and Palmreuter.

On the men's side, CUW lost its second conference game of the season, a 3-2 setback at MSOE. Once the calendar flipped to October, however, CUW turned things up posting eight straight league wins to end the season. The Falcons were dominant defensively, allowing one goal in the month of October, a span of eight league games. The one goal allowed was in the seventh minute of the first game of the month.

Head coach Tom Saleska was named the NACC Coach of the Year, while freshman Gavin Falotico was chosen as both the Freshman of the Year and the Co-Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, seniors Diego Campos and Keegan Van Dusseldorp were named First Team All-NACC, while all three players also gained NSCAA All-Region honors.

It was also the first time in NACC history in which the same school captured the Men's and Women's Soccer Championships in the same season. Both should have plenty to build on heading into 2016, following an incredible fall of 2015 on the pitch.

2015-16 Stories of the Year
HM: Individual success, accolades big part of Falcons Year
No. 5: Falcons have six land Coach of the Year honors
No. 4: Future looks bright for CUW with strong freshmen class
No. 3: Men's, Women's Soccer programs capture NACC titles
No. 2: July 19
No. 1: July 26