Andrew Wenger awarded 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy
1.6.12
ST. LOUIS, MO. - (Jan. 6, 2012) – Senior midfielder Teresa Noyola from Stanford University and junior forward Andrew Wenger from Duke University are the winners of the 2011 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, presented to the best female and male players in NCAA Division I soccer. The winners were decided by a vote of NCAA Division I soccer coaches whose programs are current members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
This year’s presentation is unique for both the women and men. Noyola is the third different Stanford player to win the award in as many years, following Christen Press (2010) and Kelley O’Hara (2009). It marks the first time in the history of the MAC Hermann Trophy that three different players from the same school have won the award three years in a row. Wenger becomes the first MAC Hermann Trophy winner to be coached by a former winner. Duke head coach John Kerr won the award in 1986 while playing for the Blue Devils.
Wenger, the Lititz, PA native, was a standout for the 2009 and 2010 Reading United squad. He was instrumental in the 2010 team’s run to the PDL Final Four in Portland. While used primarily as a defensive midfielder during his time with Reading, Wenger would go on to become a top offensive threat in the 2011 ACC season. Reading President Art Auchenbach stated, “Andrew Wenger is the complete package. He can be used anywhere on the field and his work ethic and professionalism will be tremendous assets to the MLS squad that is fortunate to draft his services. It’s great to see a top local product be acknowledged for his tireless commitment to the game.”
Wenger led the ACC with 17 goals and 42 points overall and ranked fourth nationally in total points and sixth in total goals. A starter in every game for the Blue Devils over the past three years, Wenger has earned nearly every ACC award possible. He was selected the 2011 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, after being named the ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Wenger is the fourth Duke player to win the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy, following Kerr (1986), Jay Heaps (1998) and Ali Curtis (2000). Equally as successful in the classroom, he became the second Blue Devil in program history to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America first team honors. Wenger was also recently one of four juniors to receive NSCAA Scholar All-America first team honors.
The first runner-up was Creighton forward Ethan Finlay (Marshfield , Wis.), followed by another Reading United alum, North Carolina junior forward Billy Schuler ( Allentown , N.J. ). Schuler has been linked to a professional contract with Swedish side Hammarby.
The Missouri Athletic Club has been presenting college soccer’s players of the year awards since 1986. The MAC was established in 1903 as an athletic, dining and social club. It has a “Platinum Club of America” status, which is awarded to the top private clubs in the country.
Based in Kansas City, Kan., the NSCAA is the largest soccer coaches organization in the world. Since its founding in 1941, it has grown to include more than 30,000 members who coach both genders at all levels of the sport. In addition to a national rankings program for colleges and high schools, NSCAA offers an extensive recognition program that presents nearly 10,000 individual awards every year. It fulfills its mission of coaching education through a nationwide program of clinics and week-long courses, teaching more than 6,000 soccer coaches each year
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