Wisconsin Soccer Central

After two seasons of prep soccer, Emily Cervantes is on pace to become the leading goal scorer in state history – and the most honored player, too.

The Waukesha Catholic Memorial sophomore striker recently was named the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year for the second straight season, heading up the organization's annual all-state team.

Cervantes, who has verbally committed to Tennessee for 2016, had 66 goals and 20 assists in helping the Crusaders (25-2-1) win the WIAA Division 3 state championship – their third consecutive title after claiming Division 2 crowns in 2011 and '12.

Her 66-goal season ranks second in state history behind only the 72 scored by former Ozaukee standout Ashley Bares in 2005, and Cervantes has 116 goals through two years – Bares holds the state career record of 224 from 2004 to '07. Cervantes previously was named the Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year for 2014, and will be a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American for the second straight year.

Three other players joined Cervantes on the WSCA All-State First XI for the second consecutive season: Waukesha West senior forward Katie Grall, Menomonee Falls senior midfielder Anna Smalley and Waunakee sophomore defender Jada Dayne.

Grall, who is headed to Loyola (Ill.), had 15 goals and eight assists as the Wolverines advanced to the Division 2 state final before falling to Waunakee 2-1. Smalley, a UW-Milwaukee recruit, scored eight goals and added nine assists for Falls, which fell to eventual Division 1 state champion Milwaukee DSHA 1-0 in a sectional semifinal.

Dayne anchored a Waunakee backline that posted 16 shutouts and added one assist for the Warriors (24-5-0), who also saw senior forward Emily Mouille named to the First XI. The Marquette-bound Mouille had 42 goals and nine assists before missing Waunakee's sectional final and both state tournament matches because of injury.

Whitefish Bay was the other team with two First XI selection, with senior defender Cassidy Blanchard and senior midfielder Caroline Fink both honored. Blanchard, another UWM recruit, had five goals and led a defense that blanked 12 opponents, while Marquette recruit Fink had 15 goals and 13 assists for the Blue Dukes.

DSHA senior defender Kristin Bronikowski also made the top team after anchoring the Dashers' solid backline – they posted 18 clean sheets and allowed just 12 goals in 26 matches (19-5-2). Bronikowski also had two goals and one assist.

Schofield D.C. Everest junior Maddie Mittelsteadt and Appleton North senior Mackenzie Greisch joined Cervantes and Krall as the four forwards on the First XI selected by the coaches' panel. Mittelsteadt racked up 33 goals and seven assists for the Division 1 state runner-up Evergreens, while Greisch finished with 21 goals and seven assists for the Lightning.

For the second consecutive season, the first-team goalkeeper is from Middleton. Senior Liz McMahon, who backed up all-state selection Meghan Ledin with the Cardinals in 2013, earned the nod after posting a 0.63 goals-against average this season. Middleton recorded 12 shutouts this spring – including eight in a row.

Mouille and Greisch moved up to the First XI after being "Best of the Rest" selections last year.

Player of the Year: Emily Cervantes, Waukesha Catholic Memorial