Wisconsin Soccer Central

The past 12 months have been pretty amazing for Sam Brotherton.

During that time, he's played a key role for New Zealand as it played in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup on its home soil, moved half a world away and claimed Big Ten Conference All-Freshman honors for the University of Wisconsin and earned his first cap with the full national team.

Brotherton's latest success came Saturday night in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, as he and the All Whites outlasted the host country 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in an OFC Nations Cup final watched by a crowd of 13,000.

By winning the Oceania Football Confederation title, New Zealand earned a berth in next summer's FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia – Germany, Chile, Mexico, Australia and the host country will play in the event, along with the winners of this year's UEFA European Championships and the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Brotherton, 19, started all five matches at the Nations Cup for the All Whites, who posted four clean sheets and outscored opponents 10-1 at the tournament. He logged all 120 minutes in the final and went the full 90 in three other matches.

According to a UW news release, Brotherton plans to return to the U.S. and play for the Des Moines Menace in the Premier Development League – Badgers defender Alex Masbruch (Slinger), midfielders Chris Mueller and Nick Jones and forward Tommy Barlow also are with the Menace this summer.

Maranatha Baptist's Wira Wama was an unused sub for Papua New Guinea, which was playing in its first Nations Cup final. The 26-year-old started the home team's first two games of the tournament, but didn't see action in the final three matches.