University of Detroit Mercy senior Nathan Steinwascher has been chosen as one of 30 candidates for the 2015 Senior Class Award in Divison I men's soccer. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.
Steinwascher is the only Horizon League soccer student-athlete -- men's or women's -- to be among the 2015 candidates for the award.
Steinwascher is a three-year starter at goalkeeper for the Titans and is serving as a senior co-captain in 2015. He became the first player in Horizon League history to earn both the Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year as well as the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year when he received both awards in 2014. He was also selected First Team All-Horizon League last year and was ranked near the top of the league in nearly every statistical category.
The Sterling Heights, Mich. native has already completed his undergraduate degree in Accounting with a 3.63 GPA. He's currently enrolled in an MBA program and holds a 3.46 GPA.
Steinwascher helped spearhead a defense to the lowest goals against average (0.89) in school history last season as the team allowed just 19 goals in 20 games. He finished the 2014 season with a 0.95 GAA, 79.3 save percentage, 69 total saves, a 9-7-2 record and seven shutouts. He was named the Team MVP at the postseason banquet.
He was also selected to the 2014 Horizon League Fall All-Academic Team and received the Titan Club Award from the UDM athletic department, presented to a male and female student-athlete on the merits of athletic performance and academic excellence.
Entering the 2015 season, Steinwascher was second in career goals against average (1.29) and third all-time in total saves (256), wins (22), shutouts (14), save percentage (.776) and minutes played (5,141). He has started 57 matches in goal for the Titans including both games this season.
The candidate classes for the Senior Class Award will be narrowed down to 10 finalists midway through the regular season and those 10 names will be placed on an official ballot. Ballots will then be distributed nationwide to media, coaches and fans who will select one male and one female candidate that best exemplifies the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
**Release courtesy of Detroit Athletic Communications.
