Posted: Dec 14, 2011

Swagger, Nelson & Rounds Named All-Region

MOORHEAD, Minn. (12/14/11)— Concordia placed three players on the National Soccer Coaches' Association (NSCAA) Division III All-North Region Team. The Cobbers have now had 12 players earn All-Region honors the past three seasons - the most of any school in the MIAC.

Ali Nelson (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) and Sarah Rounds (Jr., Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) were named to the All-Region First Team and senior midfielder Kelsey Swagger (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) was placed on the All-Region Second Team. It is the third straight season that Nelson has earned All-Region honors while Rounds makes the All-Region squad for the second consecutive year. It is the first time in her career that Swagger has been named to an All-Region Team.

Nelson was the team's starting goalkeeper and finished the year with a goals against average of 0.68. It is the third straight season she has had a season-ending GAA of under 0.70. Nelson started 22 of the team's 23 games in 2011 and posted a career-best 11 shutouts. She did not allow more than two goals in a single game the entire season and allowed more than one goal in only five games.

Nelson has now played in 63 games in her career and has a GAA of 0.68. She is 41-9-12 in her three at Concordia and has recorded 29 shutouts. She is second on the school's all-time shutout and total games played lists. She needs eight more shutouts and 17 more games played to become the school's all-time leader in each category.

Rounds had another 30-plus point total season. She scored 15 goals and added four assists for 34 points. She led the MIAC in shots, shots per game and goals and was tied for the point total lead in all games. Rounds scored at least one goal in 13 of the team's 23 games and scored in five of the last seven games of the year. The Cobbers were 11-2-0 when Rounds scored in a game.

Rounds is closing on the 100-point milestone for her career. She has 37 goals and 24 assists for 98 points in her first three seasons at CC. She needs two more points to become the sixth player in program history to reach the 100-point barrier.

Swagger changed from her position of outside defender, where she played for the first three seasons, to midfielder in 2011. She helped the Cobbers dominate their opponents through the middle part of the field. She finished the season with her second highest assist total and was a huge factor in Concordia's offense which was second in the MIAC in overall shots and points. She also solidified the defense which was third in goals against average.

Complete List of 2011 NSCAA All-North Region Team