Wisconsin Soccer Central

Two of the top college women's soccer players in the country are from the same Wisconsin high school: Mequon Homestead.

Marquette senior defender Ally Miller was a second-team selection on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American team announced Friday, while Baylor senior forward Dana Larsen made the third team.

Miller anchored a Golden Eagles backline that allowed just 13 goals in 23 matches and posted 17 clean sheets and was the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. She also was the team's third-leading scorer with seven goals, including four game-winners – that after scoring just three times in her first three seasons.

Miller is the fourth Marquette player named to the NSCAA All-American team, and the first to make the second team since forward Kate Gordon in 2002. Gordon also was a second-team pick in 2000, defender Rhegan Hyypio made the first team in 2000 and defender Kerry McBride (Milwaukee DSHA) was a third-team choice in 2010.

Miller and Larsen were teammates at Homestead as freshmen in 2006 – Larsen opted to play year-round club soccer with FC Milwaukee for the remainder of her high school career.

Larsen led the Bears (19-1-5) with 11 goals and nine assists as they recorded the best season in program history, scoring five game-winners. She finished her career fifth in the Baylor record book with 29 career goals, tied for fourth with 17 assists and fourth with 75 points.

Interestingly, Larsen was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection but was one of only four conference players to earn All-American honors. She is Baylor's third All-American and first since 1998.

• Miller also earned a spot on the second team of the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Season.
• Two state players were honored on the College Soccer News All-Freshman Team: Marquette defender Axel Sjoberg was a first-team selection, while Notre Dame midfielder Patrick Hodan (Milwaukee Marquette) claimed third-team honors. The 6-foot-7 Sjoberg was second on the team with eight goals and added three assists and anchored a Golden Eagles backline that allowed just 17 goals and posted 10 clean sheets in 21 games. Hodan, meanwhile, had six goals and five assists in 22 matches for the Fighting Irish.
• Milwaukee's Bob Gansler will receive the Charlotte Moran Long Term Service Award from the NSCAA at its annual awards banquet Jan. 18 in Indianapolis. Gansler, who has coached the U.S. national team, Kansas City Wizards, Milwaukee Rampage, UW-Milwaukee men's team and the Milwaukee Marquette High School boys team during his legendary career, is being honored for elevating youth soccer through his long-term service and dedication. Gansler, a member of the NSCAA Hall of Fame, is a staff coach for Elm Grove SC and the NSCAA.