Indiana University Athletics
Zavaleta Named to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List
8/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 13, 2012
2012 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch Lists
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Indiana University sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta was one of 42 Division I men's soccer players named to the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List on Monday.
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer presented annually in January during a banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
The list will be narrowed down by NSCAA members from Division I programs to 15 semifinalists by Nov. 29. Member coaches and fans will then vote for their top three choices and the finalists will be announced Dec. 6. The winners will be announced at the awards banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club on Friday, Jan. 11.
Zavaleta is coming off a freshman campaign where he was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Zavaleta led the Big Ten Conference in goals scored (10), total points (25) and points per game (1.14). His 10 goals scored were the most by an IU freshman since Matt Fundenberger had 13 in 1997, and he became the first freshman to lead the Hoosiers in scoring since Todd Yeagley in 1991.
Zavaleta had three game-winning goals on the year and tallied his first multiple-goal match of his career with a pair of scores in a 4-1 win at Michigan on Oct. 15. In addition to his Big Ten honors, Zavaleta was named to the College Soccer News All-Freshman team, the Soccer America All-Freshman first team, the Chicagoland Soccer News Player of the Year and was an NSCAA first-team All-Great Lakes Region honoree.
Indiana has a long history with the MAC Hermann Trophy, most recently in 2011 when Will Bruin was runner-up for the award. The MAC has honored the top player in collegiate soccer since 1986. Prior to 2002, the Missouri Athletic Club and Hermann Trophy were two separate awards. Two IU players earned the MAC Player of the Year trophy on three occasions with Ken Snow taking the honor in 1988 and 1990, and Yeagley in 1994. Hoosiers collected five Hermann trophies with Angelo DiBernardo in 1978, Armando Betancourt in 1981, Ken Snow in 1988 and 1990, and Brian Maisonneuve in 1994. Danny O'Rourke won the combined award in 2004.
