Nov. 28, 2012

VOTE FOR ALVAREZ or DIOUF | Info On All 15 Candidates

STORRS, Conn. - University of Connecticut stars Mamadou Doudou Diouf and Carlos Alvarez have been named two of the 15 semifinalists for the Missouri Athletics Club’s Hermann Trophy, presented annually to the Nation’s top player. Connecticut has had three Hermann Trophy winners: O’Brian White – 2007, Chris Gbandi – 2000, Joseph Morrone – 1980.

Andre Blake was a member of the Preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List, but no goalkeepers were selected on the list of 15 semifinalists.

Head coaches of NCAA Division I programs with current membership in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) will vote to determine the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy recipient. Three finalists for the award will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 6.

This year’s Hermann Trophy will also be determined partially by fan voting. Fans can VOTE HERE.

Connecticut and Notre Dame are the only two institutions with multiple selections as the UConn stars were joined by fellow All-BIG EAST First Team selections Ryan Finley and Dillon Powers. The BIG EAST had six of the 15 semifinalists.

Both Alvarez and Diouf were named Preseason All-Americans at the start of the season.

Alvarez, a senior captain from Los Angeles, Calif., was recently tabbed BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and has led UConn to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. Alvarez is looking to close out his senior season with an NCAA Championship to add to an incredible career. A two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection and the 2009 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, Alvarez currently ranks No. 3 all-time at UConn with 42 assists and No. 14 all-time with 82 points. He’s recorded seven goals and nine assists for 23 points in 2012, including assists or goals on nine game-winning tallies.

Diouf, a junior forward from Dakar, Senegal, earned a spot on the list with 15 goals and two assists for 32 points. Diouf has notched six game-winning goals in 2012. A First Team All-BIG EAST selection in each of the past two seasons, Diouf has registered 34 goals and five assists in 57 career games, good for .60 goals per game in three years. The BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year tallied the game-tying goal against New Mexico in the NCAA Third Round to send the contest into overtime this past weekend.

UConn will face Creighton at 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 2 at Morrone Stadium in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The winner of Sunday’s match will advance to the NCAA College Cup in Hoover, Ala. on Friday, December 7. Creighton midfielder Jose Gomez is also a Hermann Trophy Semifinalist.

First	Last	Class	Position	School	Hometown
Carlos	Alvarez	Sr.	M	Connecticut	Los Angeles, Calif.
Don	Anding	Sr.	F	Northeastern	Amity Harbor, N.Y.
Ashton	Bennett	Sr.	F	Coastal Carolina	Clarendon, Jamaica
Scott	Caldwell	Sr.	M	Akron	Braintree, Mass.
Mamadou	Diouf	Jr.	F	Connecticut	Dakar, Senegal
Andrew	Farrell	Jr.	D	Louisville	Louisville, Ky.
Ryan	Finley	Sr.	F	Notre Dame	Lumberton, N.J.
Jose	Gomez	Sr.	M	Creighton	Santa Ana, Calif.
Daniel	Haber	Jr.	F	Cornell	Toronto, Ontario
Robbie	Kristo	So.	F	St. Louis	St. Louis, Mo.
Patrick	Mullins	Jr.	F	Maryland	New Orleans, La.
Steve	Neumann	Jr.	F	Georgetown	New Hope, Pa.
Dillon	Powers	Sr.	M	Notre Dame	Plano, Texas
Devon	Sandoval	Sr.	F	New Mexico	Albuquerque, N.M.
Chris	Thomas	Sr.	F	Elon	Snellville, Ga.