Indiana University Athletics
M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Announcement Live on ESPNews
1/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 5, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Missouri Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Hermann Trophy will be announced on Friday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. Indiana senior midfielder Brian Plotkin is among the three finalists, along with Maryland's Jason Garey and New Mexico's Jeff Rowland. The trio will be present at the announcement at the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis. The announcement will be made live on ESPNews.
Along with being announced as a first team National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American on Dec. 9, Plotkin was named as one of three finalists for the national player of the year honor. He and teammates Jacob Peterson and Jed Zayner were selected as three of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy on Nov. 16. The trio was also selected to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List in the preseason. The list included 25 players, who were regarded as the top players in the nation entering the 2005 campaign.
Plotkin enjoyed an exceptional career at Indiana, including back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2003 and 2004. During his four-year Hoosier career, Indiana amassed an overall record of 64-13-14. He leaves Indiana as one of the top players to wear the cream and crimson. Plotkin finished his career ranked among IU's all-time top 25 in three categories; tied for ninth in assists (34), eighth in career shots (262) and 23rd in career points (76).
As a senior, the Lisle, Ill., native was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year and was the conference's only unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection. He topped the Big Ten in points (26) and game-winning goals (4), while ranking second in assists (10) and fourth in goals (8). On three occasions, Plotkin earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.
He capped his Hoosier career by scoring the game-winning goal on Senior Night (Nov. 3) against then-No. 1 Akron. Plotkin knocked in a cross from senior Jordan Chirico, inciting a celebration from the sixth-largest crowd of 4,884 in attendance. For his efforts, the senior captain was named Soccer America National Player of the Year as well as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Last season, Danny O'Rourke became the first Hoosier to win the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy. The M.A.C. Award and Hermann Trophy were merged into one award prior to the 2002 season. Before that, the honors were both given out as national player of the year awards. The merge of the two honors completed a process of combining the three top honors in collegiate soccer. In 1999, the M.A.C. and NSCAA came together to create a single award to recognize the top Division I player.
On five occasions, a Hoosier won the Hermann Trophy and on three occasions, a Hoosier won the M.A.C. Player of the Year Award. The list of Hermann Trophy winners includes: Angelo DiBernardo (1978), Armando Betancourt (1981), Ken Snow (1988, 1990) and Brian Maisonneuve (1994). The list of M.A.C. Award winners includes Snow (1988, 1990) and Todd Yeagley (1994).
