PDL, W-League Players Named To MAC Hermann Award Watch Lists

The United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League and W-League announced Wednesday a list of players from their teams who have been placed on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Watch Lists for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy for outstandings male and female college soccer players of the year.

Of the 38 nominees named to the men's list and the 45 on the women's list, 25 men and 19 women who played in their respective leagues this season, were named.

On the men's side, the PDL runner-up Chicago Fire has six players represented, followed by the expansion Cary Clarets with three.

On the women's side, the now two-time, back-to-back W-League champion Pali Blues had five players named, followed by the runner-up Washington Freedom with three.

Both lists will be reduced to 15 selections after a NSCAA committee meets in November, followed by another meeting in December to select three finalists for each award.

Those players will then be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club for a news conference January 8, when the winners will be announced, after voting by NSCAA members is complete.

Here are the list of USL PDL and W-League players on the Hermann Award Watch Lists, listed by position, USL franchise and college:

USL PDL HERMANN AWARD WATCH LIST MEMBERS

GOALKEEPER
Jimmy Maurer - Chicago Fire (South Carolina)

DEFENDERS
Mark Blades - Chicago Fire (Northwestern)
Joel Gustafsson - Long Island Rough Riders (St. Johns)
James McVea - FC Fredericksburg Gunners (Loyola - MD)
Ike Opara - Cary Clarets (Wake Forest)
Barry Rice - Chicago Fire (Kentucky)
Chris Schuler - Chicago Fire (Creighton)
Patrick Sigler - Orange County Blue Star (Cal Poly)
Seth Sinovic - Chicago Fire (Creighton)

MIDFIELDERS
Anthony Ampaipitakwong - Bradenton Academics (Akron)
Ben Arikian - Long Island Rough Riders (Massachusetts)
Corben Bone - Carolina Dynamo (Wake Forest)
J.T. Noone - Ocean City Barons (Temple)
Conor O'Brien - Cary Clarets (Bucknell)
Joe Salem - Des Moines Menace (Tulsa)
Kevin Shrout - Kansas City Brass (Drake)
Andy Stadler - Michigan Bucks (George Washington)
Tony Tchani - Hampton Roads Piranhas (Virginia)

FORWARDS
Andre Akpan - Chicago Fire (Harvard)
Devan Carroll - Cary Clarets (UNC-Wilmington)
Conor Chinn - Orange County Blue Star (San Francisco)
Two-Boys Gumede - Panama City Pirates (Alabama-Birmingham)
Kyle Nakazawa - Los Angeles Legends (UCLA)
Garrett Webb - Des Moines Menace (Drake)
Alex Weekes - New Jersey Rangers (Colgate)

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USL W-LEAGUE HERMANN AWARD WATCH LIST MEMBERS

GOALKEEPERS
Kristin Arnold - Real Colorado Cougars (Texas A&M)
Alyssa Naeher - Washington Freedom (Penn State)
Kristin Olsen - Pali Blues (USC)

DEFENDERS
Becky Edwards - Washington Freedom (Florida State)
Whitney Ergen - Pali Blues (North Carolina)
Brianna Young - Real Colorado Cougars (Texas A&M)

MIDFIELDERS
Hailey Beam - Charlotte Lady Eagles (UNC Charlotte)
Sinead Farrelly - Richmond Kickers Destiny (Virginia)
Tobin Heath - Pali Blues (North Carolina)
Katherine Reynolds - Seattle Sounders (Santa Clara)
Courtney Rosen - Cleveland Internationals (Notre Dame)
Sophie Schmidt - Vancouver Whitecaps (Portland)

FORWARDS
Lauren Cheney - Pali Blues (UCLA)
Gina DiMartino - Long Island Rough Riders (Boston College)
Laura Heyboer - West Michigan Firewomen (Michigan State)
Corky Julien - Laval Comets (James Madison)
Casey Noguiera - Cary Lady Clarets (North Carolina)
Kelley O'Hara - Pali Blues (Stanford)
Katie Schroeder - Washington Freedom (Penn State)