Toni Siikala Photo Gallery
Toni Siikala '96, a former two-time men's soccer All-American, was inducted into the Campbell University Sports Hall of Fame during an Apr. 9, 2010 ceremony at the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center.
A native of Seinajoki, Finland, Siikala arrived at Campbell University in the fall of 1992 and by the time he graduated four years later, was one of the top scorers in Campbell University and NCAA Division I history.
Siikala saw his freshman year end after only 12 games due to injury for the Camels, who won the Big South Conference tournament championship. However, he rebounded in 1993 when he finished third nationally in scoring with 23 goals and 14 assists en route to earning second-team NSCAA All-America honors. In addition, he was named 1st-team All-South region, first-team All-Big South Conference and to the Big South All-tournament team for the league regular season champions.
As a junior, Siikala was a first-team All-TAAC selection despite missing seven games with an injured ankle.
One year later, he again produced sensational numbers with 25 goals and 56 points in 18 matches to finish as the nation's second-leading scorer. As a result, Siikala was a first-team All-America and All-South choice and was one of 12 finalists for the Hermann Trophy, which is presented annually to the top college soccer player in the nation.
Campbell's first two-time soccer All-American was chosen to play in the Umbro Select College All-Star Classic after being named Trans America Athletic Conference Player of the Year, first-team All-TAAC and All-TAAC tournament. He scored in 15 of 18 games and had six game-winning goals.
During his 60-game career, Siikala notched 68 goals and provided 27 assists for 163 points to tie for the school's Division I era all-time scoring lead. He helped lead the Camels to one conference tournament title, a regular season championship and two league tournament runner-up finishes during his four-year tenure in Buies Creek.
Siikala's name still dots the Big South and Atlantic Sun Conference record books. His career points per game mark of 2.72 ranked 21st in NCAA Division I men's soccer history at the time of his induction.
A two-time All-America and All-South region performer, he was a three-time, first-team all-conference and conference All-Academic team member and was named Campbell's Outstanding Male Athlete for 1995-96. He graduated in May 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics.
The 10th player chosen in the 1996 American Professional Soccer League college draft by the Colorado Foxes, Siikala embarked on a seven-year pro career than included stops with the Nashville Metros, Raleigh Flyers, Charleston Battery and Hampton Roads Mariners of the United Soccer Leagues, as well as a stint with the St. Louis Ambush of the National Professional (Indoor) Soccer League. He led his professional teams in scoring three times.
Siikala also served two seasons as assistant coach at Charleston Southern University (1998-99) while completing his Master's in Business Administration.
He joined Nokia, Inc., in 2000 and serves as a program manager for finance and control in Irving, Texas for one of the world's leading companies in converging Internet and communications industries.
