Ahead of the NCAA College Cup, the NSCAA announced forwards Will Bruin (Indiana), Darlington Nagbe (Akron) and Colin Rolfe (Louisville) as the three finalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy.
All three were a big part of their respective team’s offense, but it was their all-around play that set them apart from everyone else.
Bruin led Indiana to the NCAA Tournament's third round, where they came up short against Akron. The Big Ten Player of the Year tallied 18 goals in 20 games, chipping in five assists as the Hoosiers won the Big Ten regular-season championship.
Nagbe’s nomination marks the third straight year that Akron boasts a Hermann Trophy finalist. Current Seattle Sounders forward Steve Zakuani and Sporting Kansas City’s Teal Bunbury won in 2008 and '09, respectively.
Despite taking a back seat in the goal-scoring department to freshman teammate Darren Mattocks, Nagbe proved to be a weapon in the Zips’ dazzling attack. Scoring seven goals and dishing out 13 assists highlight the striker’s impressive all-around season.
Rounding out the candidates is Rolfe. The junior forward has stood out all season for the undefeated Cardinals and has excelled in the NCAA Tournament. His nine goals and seven assists are best on the Cardinals.
The trophy will be awarded at a ceremony on Jan. 7 in St. Louis at the Missouri Athletic club.
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