Nov. 17, 2005
Jeff Rowland, a senior forward on the Lobo men’s soccer team, has been chosen as a semifinalist for the 2005 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy. Rowland is one of 15 players still being considered for the most prestigious award in intercollegiate soccer.
Rowland, along with Jason Garey of Maryland and Matt Groenwald of St. John’s, are among the roster of top intercollegiate players selected by a panel of NCAA Division I coaches to comprise the selection pool for 2005. The award, which is the official National Soccer Coaches Association of America Player of the Year award for Division I competition, is regarded as college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy.
Reigning national champion Indiana University placed three players on the ballot: senior midfielder Brian Plotkin and juniors Jacob Peterson, a forward, and defender Jed Zayner. The Hoosiers’ Danny O’Rourke claimed the award in 2004. UCLA is the only other school with multiple representatives, placing junior midfielder Patrick Ianni and sophomore defender Marvell Wynne on the ballot.
The winner will be determined in voting by NSCAA Division I member coaches. Three men’s and three women’s finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy will be announced at the 2005 Men’s College Cup on Dec. 9. The finalists will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, for the announcement of the winner at a press conference which will be telecast live by ESPNews. Both winners will be presented the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy at a banquet later that evening.
An exhibition featuring the current winners and past winners of the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy is on display at the National Soccer Museum in Oneonta, N.Y.
Rowland is a former walk-on who became the fourth All-American in school history last season. He is an excellent student who has a 3.76 g.p.a. in Marketing and was the only player in 2004 to earn 1st All-American and 1st Team Academic All-American honors. He ranks third in points (97), third in goals (42) and third in shots (213) on UNM’s all-time list and has earned two National Player of the Week honors and four MPSF Player of the Week Awards.
Not only is Rowland a 2005 Hermann Trophy Candidate, but he is also a preseason All-American selection by CollegeSoccerNews.com and Soccer America. He leads the Lobos and led the MPSF in scoring with 29 points on 13 goals and three assists. He is tied for 20th in the NCAA in scoring and tied for 13th in goals. Rowland also earned his second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI honor this year, and has four game-winning goals this season.
The Lobos will be the No. 2 seed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament and are the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. They will receive a first-round bye and will host the winner of the Bradley-Wisconsin-Milwaukee match-up in the second round. Bradley and UWM play on Friday, Nov. 18, with the winner traveling to Albuquerque for the second-round game at the UNM Soccer Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 7:00 p.m. (M.S.T.). Tickets are available at the UNM Ticket Office at The Pit and are $5 for adults and $3 for youth and UNM Students. Call (505) 925-LOBO for more information.
2005 MISSOURI ATHLETIC CLUB HERMANN TROPHY MEN’S SEMIFINALISTS
Mehdi Ballouchy, Jr., Midfielder, Santa Clara – Ranks fifth on the Broncos in scoring with nine points. Tied for team lead in shots (39).
Greg Dalby, Jr., Midfielder, Poway, Calif., Notre Dame – One of four Fighting Irish players to have started all 20 games this season. Scored his first career goal in Notre Dame’s first contest of the season against SMU. Unanimous All-Big East first-team selection.
Jason Garey, Sr., Forward, Gonzales, La., Maryland – Leads the Terrapins in goals (19) and points (44). Ranks second nationally in goals scored and third in goals per game (1.00).
Matt Groenwald, Graduate, Forward, Mt. Prospect, Ill., St. John’s – Leads the Red Storm with five goals and 14 points. A senior in eligibility who already has received his bachelor’s degree and is in graduate school.
Patrick Ianni, Jr., Midfielder, Lodi, Calif., UCLA – Key member of Bruins’ defensive unit that leads the nation in goals against average (0.40) and shutout percentage (0.76) and has not allowed a goal in eight home matches.
Aaron King, Sr., Forward, Denver, Colo., North Carolina State – Has 33 points, the most by a North Carolina State player in 14 years.
Sacha Kljestan, Jr., Midfielder, Huntington Beach, Calif., Seton Hall – Has tallied career highs in goals (nine), assists (13) and points (31) this season.
Justin Moose, Sr., Forward, Statesville, N.C., Wake Forest – Leads the Demon Deacons in points (19. Tied an ACC single-game record with four assists against South Carolina and is only player in league history to accomplish the feat in one half.
Randi Patterson, Jr., Forward, Hackensack, N.J., North Carolina –Greensboro – Leads North Carolina-Greensboro and Southern Conference with 39 points, which also ranks in top 10 nationally.
Jacob Peterson, Jr., Forward, Portage, Mich, Indiana – Leads the Hoosiers and the Big Ten with 12 goals and 26 points.
Brian Plotkin, Sr., Midfielder, Lisle, Ill., Indiana – Leads the Big Ten in points (26) and game-winning goals (four).
Jeff Rowland, Sr., Forward, Albuquerque, N.M., New Mexico – Leads the Lobos and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in scoring with 29 points on 13 goals and three assists.
Michael Videira, So., Midfielder, Milford, Mass., Duke – Second on the Blue Devils with eight assists and tied for fifth with 14 points.
Marvell Wynne, So., Defender, Poway, Calif., UCLA – Integral member of Bruins’ defensive unit that leads the nation in goals against average (0.40) and shutout percentage (0.76).
Jed Zayner, Jr., Defender, Orland Park, Ill., Indiana – Organizer of Hoosiers’ defense that ranks sixth nationally in shutout percentage and 11th in goals against average (0.62).