ST. LOUIS - United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) and the Missouri Athletic Club announced the 61 NCAA Division I players named to the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy watch lists and three WAC men's soccer players were recognized. Utah Valley forward Paul Hoffmeister, Grand Canyon forward Niki Jackson and UNLV forward Danny Musovski were among the 31 players on the men's watch list for the upcoming 2017 season.
Hoffmeister, a third team NSCAA All-American as a junior amd CoSIDA Academic All-America second team honoree, scored nine goals to help lead the Wolverines to their first WAC regular season title in the program's short history.
Jackson, the 2016 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, led the conference with 16 goals and 34 points as a junior. The Lopes will rely on the talented senior this season in their first year eligible for both the WAC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
Musovksi, the 2016 WAC Tournament MVP, was the WAC leader in shots with 74 last season and ranked second with both points (30) and goals (12). He helped lead the Rebels to a win at the 2016 WAC Tournament as UNLV advanced past San Diego State before falling to eventual College Cup participant Denver in the second round.
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. This year's winners will be announced Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. The watch lists are compiled by members of the United Soccer Coaches Men's and Women's NCAA Division I All-America Committees. Fifteen semifinalists will be named for both the men's and women's MAC Hermann Trophy near the end of the college season based on voting by NCAA Division I coaches and from those candidates, three finalists will ultimately be placed on the ballot for the coveted award.