Indiana University Athletics
Bruin Honored at MAC Hermann Trophy Awards Ceremony
1/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 8, 2011
ST. LOUIS, MO. - In front of friends and family in his home city, Indiana University forward Will Bruin was honored Friday night as one of three finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy at the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis.
Bruin was joined in the final three by Akron's Darlington Nagbe and Louisville's Colin Rolfe. In one of the closest votes in the award's history, Nagbe edged out Bruin for the award.
Bruin had one of the finest seasons in more than a decade for Indiana, finishing his junior year with 18 goals and five assists for 41 points. A unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection, Bruin was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer team of the season and was a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week honoree in 2010.
Among his other honors he was named the ChicaoglandSoccerNews Men's College Player of the Year and was a first-team MVP honoree by Soccer America.
Five times this season Bruin scored multiple goals in a match, beginning with three in a 5-1 victory over then-No. 5 UCLA on Sept. 5. He also had a pair of goals in a 3-2 win at No. 11 Creighton, and two goals in a 3-0 win at Michigan State. With Northwestern holding a 2-0 lead and the Big Ten regular season title on the line, Bruin scored two goals to tie the match as the Hoosiers went on to a 3-2 victory for their 14th Big Ten regular season crown. In the Hoosiers' 5-1 win over No. 23 Tulsa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Bruin contributed two goals and a pair of assists.
Bruin tallied three game-winning scores on the season, including a goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation to give Indiana a 3-2 win at No. 20 Penn State. Bruin tallied at least one goal in 12 of 20 matches in 2010.
For his career Bruin started all 66 matches, with 33 goals and nine assists for 75 points. Eleven of his career strikes were game winners. His 33 career goals ranks tied for 15th in school history, while his 257 shots is ninth on the all-time IU lists. Bruin's 18 goals this season is 14th in Hoosier history, with his 41 points ranking just outside the top 15. Bruin took 103 shots this season, tied for fourth among IU's single-season records.
Bruin's busy week continues Saturday as he heads down to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. for the Major League Soccer Combine, Jan. 8-11. Bruin has signed a Generation adidas contract and will be available for selection in the 2011 Major League SuperDraft, Jan. 13. The first round of the draft will be shown live on ESPN2.
