KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Last Thursday, the United Soccer Coaches announced their Scholar All-Americans for the 2022 NCAA Division III men's soccer season. Among the honorees were a trio of Falcons on the First Team with
Jake Lent-Koop,
Luke Groothoff, and
Matt McDonald earning spots on the top team. Additionally, Lent-Koop was named the United Soccer Coaches National Scholar Player of the Year.
The honors for Lent-Koop, Groothoff, and McDonald come just a few weeks after they were all named First Team All-Americans and just days after McDonald was named the National Player of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.
A year ago, Lent-Koop was named a First Team Scholar All-American by United Soccer Coaches and this year he repeated on the First Team and was named the National Scholar Player of the Year. Additionally, Lent-Koop was named a First Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators last week as well. Lent-Koop anchored Messiah's defense that allowed just 13 goals on the season for a 0.59 goals against average. His six-foot, three-inch frame allowed him to go toe-to-toe with and forward in the country as well as push forward and be a dangerous target on set pieces. In addition to his defensive abilities, Lent-Koop found the back of the net on six occasions and dished out one assist, finishing the year with 13 points. In the classroom, Lent-Koop carries a 3.81 cumulative grade-point average as a Biology major.
Matt McDonald earned his second Scholar All-American honor from the United Soccer Coaches. After earning Third Team honors last year, McDonald was elevated to the First Team after a phenomenal 2022 campaign that saw him earn numerous accolades, including National Player of the Year honors just last week. McDonald led the Falcons and tied for the national lead in goals scored with 23 on the season, adding six assists for 52 total points. He was celebrated as the MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the First Team All-Conference team before claiming his First Team All-Region and First Team All-American honors. In the classroom, McDonald carries a 3.49 cumulative grade-point-average as an Accounting major.
Luke Groothoff earned his first Scholar All-American honor from the United Soccer Coaches after claiming three Academic All-American honors from the College Sports Communicators in 2019, 2021, and 2022. His creative play and tactical skill allowed Groothoff to net six goals and assist on five others during the 2022 campaign. Beyond his goals and assists, Groothoff's area of impact on the field was great. Whether it was push forward on attack or holding possession for the Falcons and steading play in the midfield, he was always making his impact on the game felt. Groothoff carries a 3.92 cumulative GPA as a Biomedical Art & Design major.
