Indiana University Athletics
Ring Named Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
11/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 30, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For the second time in as many seasons, Indiana senior midfielder Brad Ring is one of 15 semifinalists for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, the organization announced.
The award, which is collegiate soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy, is awarded to the top Division I men's soccer player as voted on by Division I college head coaches who are current members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Three finalists for the award will be announced on Friday, Dec. 12. They will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis for a news conference on Jan. 9, 2009, where the winner will be announced.
Ring has started all 16 matches played and has had a huge impact in Indiana's two NCAA Tournament games after missing the previous six matches due to injury. Ring had a team-best six shots in a 3-0 win over Michigan in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, including his first goal of the season.
As a defensive midfielder he has played a large role in six of Indiana's 10 shutouts this season, including five shutouts of opponents ranked in the top 25. Earlier this month Ring was named to the All-Big Ten first team for the second-consecutive season and was honored with preseason All-America accolades from Soccer America and College Soccer News.
Ring is one of two Big Ten players on the list, joined by Michigan State's Doug DeMartin. In all the Hoosiers faced four of the 15 honorees during the 2008 season in DeMartin, Duke's Mike Grella, UC Santa Barbara's Chris Pontius and Akron's Steve Zakuani.
The Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year and Hermann Trophy Awards used to be given separately with Indiana players winning the Hermann Trophy in 1978 (Angelo DiBernardo), 1981 (Armando Betancourt), 1988 (Ken Snow), 1990 (Ken Snow) and 1994 (Brian Maisonneuve). The Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year trophy was given to Ken Snow (1988, 1990) and current IU assistant coach Todd Yeagley (1994). Danny O'Rourke is the only player to have won the combined award, taking the prize in 2004.
Indiana is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 6 as it travels to New York to take on the St. John's Red Storm in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of that match will advance to the NCAA College Cup, Dec. 12-14 in Frisco, Texas.
Players Mentioned
