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 Ethan Finlay (Marshfield) had an incredible college soccer career, one that rates among the best in history for a former Wisconsin prep player.
The Creighton senior forward was named to the first team of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division I All-America team, putting him in some pretty elite company.
It is believed that the only other state native chosen for the top squad in the team's history is Princeton midfielder Jesse Marsch (Racine Case), who was so honored in 1995. Marsch went on to a 14-year career in Major League Soccer, was an assistant for the U.S. national team and is now the coach of the Montreal Impact, who will be an expansion team in MLS next season.
Finlay led the Bluejays with 14 goals and 34 points and finished his career with 43 goals and 103 points in 79 matches – he ranks fifth in program history and seventh in Missouri Valley Conference in goals and stands sixth and 10th, respectively, in points.
A two-time MVC Player of the Year, Finlay was a second-team All-American last season and has been an NSCAA All-Midwest Region first team selection each of the past three years.
Finlay also was announced as one of three finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, given to the nation's top player. North Carolina junior forward Billy Schuler and Duke junior defender-midfielder Andrew Wenger are the other finalists for the award; the winner will be announced Jan. 6.
NCAA Division I women
UW-Milwaukee senior forward Sarah Hagen (Appleton North) concluded her prolific career by making the All-American second team.
Hagen set program records for goals (26) and points (61) in a season and ranked second in the country in each category, and led the nation in goals per game (1.238), points per game (2.90) and game-winning goals (11).
A first-team All-American last season, Hagen also was one of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy, given to the country's top player, but wasn't one of the three finalists. She finished her career ninth in NCAA Division I history with 93 goals and 17th with 212 points.
NCAA Division II women
Junior forward Ashley Botts (Beloit), the leading scorer for national runner-up Grand Valley State (Mich.), made the first team of both the NSCAA and Daktronics All-America teams.
Botts scored 20 goals and added 11 assists for the Lakers, who had their 42-game unbeaten streak snapped in the national final. She has 49 goals and 24 assists in her career and has been an NSCAA All-American each of her three seasons, earning first-team honors the past two years after being a third-team pick as a freshman in 2009.
Armstrong Atlantic State senior defender Kelli Bahr (Middleton) was a second-team selection on the Daktronics All-America team. Bahr, who was honorable mention last fall, had two goals and an assist this season while anchoring the backline for the national semifinalist Pirates.
NCAA Division III women
UW-Whitewater senior midfielder Emily Gerber (DeForest) and UW-Stout senior defender Courtney Tideman, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, were third-team All-Americans.
Gerber had 13 goals and 11 assists for the Warhawks and holds school records for goals and assists in a season and career. Tideman tied for the team lead with seven goals and had 13 career goals despite playing on the backline for the Blue Devils.
NAIA men
Cardinal Stritch senior forward Ben Allen, one of the NAIA's leading scorers this season, was named an honorable mention All-American for the second straight year.
The Englishman ranked seventh in the country goals per game (1.11), ninth with 21 goals, 10th in points per game (2.42) and 12th in points (46). Allen holds the Wolves' program record with 50 goals and also had 15 assists.
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