KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches announced Thursday the association’s NCAA Division III Women’s All-America Teams on the eve of the 2017 NCAA Championship semifinals in Greensboro, N.C. and Gustavus goalkeeper Ashley Becker (Jr., Farmington, Minn.) has been named First Team All-America. The First Team consists of 15 players, but just one keeper. Becker is also the only First Teamer from an institution that did not qualify for the national tournament.
Ashley Becker
Becker becomes the ninth United Soccer Coaches (formerly National Soccer Coaches Association of America) All-American in program history and first since Alecia Tromiczak in 1997. Becker is also just the third First Team All-American in program history, joining Gustavus Athletics Hall of Famers Ginny Schafer in 1991 and Kerri Pool in 1993.
Becker, who was named MIAC Defensive Player of the Year, started all 20 games this season, the most by any keeper in the league, and played 1897:54 (15th/NCAA) between the posts. The Farmington product made a conference-best 98 saves to go along with 10 shutouts. She finished the year with a 0.66 goals against average (42nd/NCAA) and an .875 save percentage (16th/NCAA). Becker, who also earned her third-straight All-Conference nod, is the first Gustie women’s soccer player to be named All-MIAC three consecutive seasons since Renee Beaudry (1999-2002). After three seasons, Becker has 285 saves with a 0.91 goals against average and an .836 save percentage.
A total of 46 women’s soccer players in NCAA Division III received All-America recognition this year, led by a trio of three-time All-Americans: Brandeis University midfielder Josh Ocel, Lynchburg College defender Emily Maxwell and University of Chicago senior midfielder Mia Calamari.
This year’s NCAA Division III All-Americans, along with their families and coaches, will be formally acknowledged for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Luncheon on January 20, 2018 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in conjunction with the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Convention in downtown Philadelphia.