2007
2007 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Jessica Powers Davis, BA'02
The only All-American in Creighton women’s soccer history, Jessica Powers Davis becomes the program’s first player inducted into the Bluejay Athletic Hall of Fame. Powers Davis played just two seasons at Creighton, but her name is found throughout the record book. She owns single-season records for points, goals and assists, as well as single-match marks for points and goals.
Her 1998 season remains one of the best in Missouri Valley Conference history. In addition to being named Valley Player of the Year, she also was chosen first-team All-Central Region and a second-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Her honors did not stop there, as the cum laude graduate also was honored as a College Sports Information Directors of America Third-Team Academic All-American and a first-team member of the MVC’s Scholar-Athlete Team.
While at Creighton, Powers Davis played for 2003 Hall of Fame inductee Ira Philson, and the Jays went a combined 23-13-2.
The Birmingham, Ala., native was recently named to the MVC’s All-Centennial Team and is currently an attorney specializing in the area of public interest law.
It is with great pride that Creighton University inducts Jessica Powers Davis into the Athletic Hall of Fame this fourth day of April, two thousand and seven.
Lance Hill, BSBA'94
Lance Hill becomes the fifth member of the men’s soccer program to enter the Creighton Athletic Hall of Fame. Hill spent five seasons at Creighton, and was a member of the first three teams to reach the NCAA Tournament. Hill was one of the pioneers of the resurrected soccer program at Creighton in 1990. He set an NCAA record as captain of the Creighton team for five years. On a team full of stars, he was the leader by example both on and off the field.
Hill finished his career with 21 goals and 20 assists, but numbers only begin to tell the story of his contributions. His teams went a combined 72-19-7 and lost just two Missouri Valley Conference games in that span. The 1993 team ascended to the number one ranking nationally. The 1994 club was the program’s first to win an NCAA Tournament game.
Hill was an All-Region performer three times, and two time first-team all-MVC honoree. He tied a school record with four goals in one 1993 game against UNLV, and was also a 1994 member of the MVC All-Tournament Team.
Following his career at Creighton, he was drafted in the 11th round and played professionally for the Colorado Rapids. He also would go on to be named the USISL Premier League Rookie of the Year.
As valuable as Hill was to the soccer program at Creighton, he has been equally valuable to our Alumni Association. He served on the National Alumni Board and continues to be a Creighton alumni leader as a member of the Dallas Alumni Advisory Board.
It is with great pride that Creighton University inducts Lance Hill into the Athletic Hall of Fame this fourth day of April, two thousand and seven.
Michael Finley, BSBA'83
One of the top players in Creighton baseball history, Michael Finley today enters the Hall of Fame for his work on the diamond and in the classroom. A versatile player, Finley saw time in the outfield, at first base and as catcher during his career from 1980-1983. He played in 229 games at Creighton and was a key cog in a line-up that helped produce three seasons of 32 wins or more and four consecutive winning records.
He batted .340 or better all four years and ranks among Creighton’s all-time leaders on the top 10 career lists for batting average, runs, hits, RBI, slugging percentage, home runs and total bases. His 36 career homers stood as the school-record until 1998, while his 214 RBI remains a school record to this day.
A first-team all-Valley selection in 1981, Finley hails from the same Cincinnati high school as fellow Creighton Athletic Hall of Famers Tom Apke and Rick Apke.
In the classroom, Finley was an honor roll student, and he received the Rev. Carl M. Reinert, S.J., Scholar-Athlete Award as a senior.
It is with great pride that Creighton University inducts Michael Finley into the Athletic Hall of Fame this fourth day of April, two thousand and seven.