Wisconsin Soccer Central

Sunday was quite a day for Ethan Finlay (Marshfield).

While Finlay and the Columbus Crew lost to the New York Red Bulls 1-0 in the second leg of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference finals in Harrison, N.J., they won the series 2-1 on aggregate to earn a spot in next Sunday's MLS Cup and will play host to the Portland Timbers in Ohio for the league championship.

And while Finlay was preparing to take the field, the 25-year-old midfielder learned that he'd been named to this season's MLS Best XI.

Finlay, who set career highs with 12 goals and 13 assists in 34 appearances (all starts), is the first player with Wisconsin ties to make the team in its 20-year history. The annual honor squad is voted on by MLS players, club executives and media members.

"Thanks to my teammates and coaches. Couldn't have done it without you!" Finlay tweeted about the honor.

A 2-0 victory in the first leg of the conference finals put the Crew in the driver's seat heading into Sunday, and they maintained their two-goal series advantage all the way into stoppage time. Anatole Abang scored on a header to give the Red Bulls a glimmer of hope, and Bradley Wright-Phillips nearly leveled the series with another header in the final seconds, but the ball bounced off the post to seal the outcome.

Finlay has one goal in four playoff matches this year, and nearly added a second on Sunday only to be denied on a tremendous save by MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Luis Robles in the 2nd minute.

MLS Cup kicks off next Sunday at 3 p.m. at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, and will be televised live on ESPN and UniMás.

The Crew advanced to the final for the second time, having won the title in 2008, while the Timbers will be playing in their first MLS Cup. The teams had identical 15-11-8 records during the regular season, but Columbus is seeded higher thanks to a better goal differential (plus-5 to plus-2). Portland won the only meeting between the teams this season, prevailing 2-1 on Sept. 26 at Mapfre Stadium.

On Twitter: @EthanFinlay13

• Center back A.J. Cochran (UW) won't be back with the Houston Dynamo, as the team declined his 2016 contract option Monday. The 22-year-old Cochran, the No. 16 selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, made 31 appearances (24 starts) for the Dynamo in all competitions over the past two seasons. However, he played in just 10 matches (eight starts) this year, and also made two starts for USL's Charleston Battery while on loan. On Twitter: @Alec_Cochran
• Andrija Novakovich (Muskego) nearly scored on his debut for Cheltenham Town, hitting the woodwork twice in a 2-0 away victory over Aldershot Town on Saturday in England. The 19-year-old striker, on loan from Championship club Reading, came on at halftime as the Robins (13-2-8) maintained their one-point lead over Forest Green Rovers atop the fifth-tier National League. "Andrija's done very well when he came on – led the line, was unlucky, hit the crossbar and the post, not to score," Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson said. On Twitter: @AndrijaNovakov3