Chippewa Valley Times

Another national accolade has been awarded to Nathan Donovan of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's soccer team. The senior forward was named the United Soccer Coaches Division III National Player of the Year for 2024, as announced by the organization on Tuesday.

Donovan, a senior from Hazel Green, Wisconsin, is the first player in Blugolds men's soccer history to receive this national recognition. He led all NCAA men's college soccer players in scoring with 26 goals during the fall season. Additionally, he recorded a team-high 15 assists, totaling 67 points. These achievements set new single-season records for UW-Eau Claire. Donovan also earned titles such as Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Kwik Trip Offensive Player of the Year and Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete this season.

With Donovan's contributions, UW-Eau Claire secured WIAC regular season and tournament championships and participated in the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive year. The Blugolds achieved 17 victories this season and maintained a national ranking throughout.

Donovan's career stands out in Division III men's soccer history. He ranks third with 229 career points and fourth with 94 career goals within DIII records. More broadly, he is among only 18 players across all NCAA divisions to finish with over 200 career points and one of just 12 players to achieve more than 90 career goals.