Hedge collects All-America honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Bellevue University sophomore Fletcher Hedge has been named a 2023 NAIA Men's Soccer All-American, as announced by the NAIA All-America Committee on Monday.

Hedge, a third team All-American, becomes the fifth Bruin named to one of the three named All-American teams and the 34^th All-America selection when accounting for honorable mentions.

The NAIA All-America Committee consists of the NAIA-Men's Soccer Coaches Association Executive Committee, the National Championship Games Committee, and four men's soccer coaches. Both the first and second teams consist of 11 members while the third team was comprised of 25 selections.

Each team is comprised of a goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, three forwards, and one at-large position.

Hedge was previously named to both the Continental Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team and was a first team all-CAC selection this season. He started all 23 games in which he played this season and shared the team lead with seven goals, adding a pair of assists for a total of 16 points from his center back role. He also helped the Bruins post a program record 13 shutouts while limiting opponents to just 21 goals in 24 games for a 0.89 goals against average on fewer than five shots on goal per game.

He helped Bellevue to a 14-6-4 record, their fourth-straight CAC title, and a fourth-straight NAIA National Tournament appearance where they reached the quarterfinals for the second time in program history.

Bellevue's men's soccer program has now won 14 conference tournament titles and qualified for 10 NAIA National Tournaments where they have advanced to the Final Site on six occasions.