KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, the United Soccer Coaches announced the 2021 NCAA Division III men's and women's soccer All-American teams. Among the 101 student-athletes honored were four Falcons, including
Kayla Herr,
Jake Lent-Koop,
Luke Brautigam, and
Trevor Goodling.
Both
Kayla Herr and
Jake Lent-Koop were honored with First Team nods while
Luke Brautigam picked up Second Team honors and
Trevor Goodling was named to the Third Team. All four honors are the first of their careers after the United Soccer Coaches did not hand out awards in 2020.
Kayla Herr was the lone member of the Messiah women's team to earn National accolades, wrapping up a stellar season in the Falcons' midfield. In the past few weeks, Herr was named First Team All-Region, First Team All-MAC Commonwealth, and the Conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Herr has been one of the most relied upon members of the Messiah line-up over the last four years. Consistently taking and controlling possession while facilitating the Falcons' offense. A starter for her entire career, Herr has made 61 starts in 64 games played during her time in Grantham. Herr has even netted three goals (two on penalty kicks) and added an assist, but her real value comes from winning nearly every ball in the midfield and steadying the Falcons whenever needed.
Also earning First Team All-American honors was defender
Jake Lent-Koop. The honors are the first of Lent-Koop's career after he got it done on both ends of the field this season. A thorn in the side of opponent's attack, Lent-Koop helped anchor a Messiah defense that allowed just 14 goals in 23 games for a 0.61 goals against average (Messiah only allowed eight goals in the regular season). Lent-Koop was stellar in the air, winning header after header in the defensive end as well as in the attacking third. The junior defender connected on six goals this season, most of which with his head on set pieces. He was two goals off the team lead this season while taking only 18 shots. His tallies seemed to come at some of the biggest moments, scoring three goals in the MAC Commonwealth and NCAA Tournaments, including the overtime game-winner against Lebanon Valley in the MAC Commonwealth Championship.
In the midfield,
Luke Brautigam picked up his first-career All-American honor claiming Second Team laurels. Brautigam was a key piece to the Falcons' midfield, controlling the pace of play and connecting passes to teammates from the middle of the field. Brautigam also showed that he had a nose for the goal, finding the back of the net seven times on the season and dishing out four assists.
Trevor Goodling also earned All-American honors, claiming a Third Team accolade. The honor was also Goodling's first career national recognition. Goodling started all 22 games he appeared in this season, pushing forward to score eight goals, tying for the team lead while also dishing out three assists. He was just one point shy of the team lead after ending the season with 19.
The Messiah men's and women's soccer teams now have 86 total All-American honors with the men earning 46 honors in their history and the women picking up their 40th honor with
Kayla Herr's accolade.
