Indiana University Athletics
Ring Named Semifinalist for Hermann Trophy
11/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 28, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - - The Missouri Athletic Club and National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced today that Indiana junior midfielder Brad Ring is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2007 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy. Considered to be college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy, the winner is selected by NCAA Division I coaches who are current NSCAA members.
A unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection, Ring has had a solid junior season with a team-best five goals and 16 points. It was Ring's goal against Penn State on Oct. 28 that gave Indiana its 12th Big Ten regular season title and he added a goal and two assists in a 4-0 win at Kentucky just three days later. For his efforts he was named to the College Soccer News and Soccer America Teams of the Week, as well as the Big Ten Player of the Week.
"Brad is the ultimate example of a midfielder," said Indiana head coach Mike Freitag. "He is perhaps the best ball winner in the country but also has the ability to score highlight reel goals for your team as well. He covers so much ground throughout the game. I can best describe Brad with one word - effective. I would hate to play against him. He epitomizes what I want in an IU Soccer player on and off the field."
One of Ring's six assists came on the game-winning score against then-No. 1 UCLA in the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The following weekend he was named the defensive MVP of the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament at Notre Dame as Indiana captured the tournament title with wins over Northern Illinois and Rhode Island.
In the Big Ten Tournament semifinal match with Michigan State, Ring set up what would be the game-winning score by Neil Wilmarth that allowed the Hoosiers to advance to the title game for the second-straight season.
Ring has started all 21 matches this season and leads the team with 60 shot attempts despite his role as a defensive midfielder. Ring is the lone representative of the Big Ten Conference on the list.
Indiana players have been honored by the Missouri Athletic Club and Hermann Trophy committee nine times since 1978. Originally two separate awards, Angelo DiBernardo was IU's first Hermann Trophy honoree in 1978, followed by Armando Betancourt in 1981. Ken Snow was a two-time winner in 1988 and 1990, while Brian Maisoneuve won the trophy in 1994.
In addition to the Hermann Trophy, Snow was named the Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year in 1988 and 1990, while current IU assistant coach Todd Yeagley took home the honor in 1994.
After the merging of the two awards, Danny O'Rourke won the 2004 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy after he helped lead Indiana to its seventh NCAA Championship.
Three men's and three women's finalists will be announced on Friday, Dec. 14, in conjunction with the semifinal rounds of the 2007 NCAA Men's College Cup. The winners will be announced at a banquet at the MAC in St. Louis, Mo., on Friday, Jan. 11, where they will be presented the prestigious crystal soccer ball that has come to symbolize the highest level of individual achievement in intercollegiate soccer.
An exhibition featuring the current and past winners of the MAC Hermann Trophy is on display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y.
2007 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
Andre Akpan, Harvard
Alejandro Bedoya, Boston College
Mike Grella, Duke
Bruno Guarda, SMU
Andy Iro, UCSB
Julius James, Connecticut
Stephen King, Maryland
Joseph Lapira, Notre Dame
Peter Lowry, Santa Clara
Patrick Nyarko, Virginia Tech
Yannick Reyering, Virginia
Brad Ring, Indiana
Julian Valentin, Wake Forest
Michael Videira, Duke
O'Brian White, Connecticut
Players Mentioned
