Jan. 6, 2006
University of New Mexico men’s soccer star Jeff Rowland is a runner-up for the 2005 Hermann Trophy Award announced today at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo. Rowland was one of three finalists for college soccer’s player of the year along with Maryland’s Jason Garey and Indiana’s Brian Plotkin. Garey, who led the Terrapins to a 1-0 win over UNM in the NCAA title game, took home the honors.
Rowland led the Lobos with 36 points on 16 goals and four assists last season and was a consensus All-American selection. He scored three goals in the NCAA Tournament, including a pair of overtime winners that vaulted New Mexico into its first ever College Cup. UNM finished the 2005 campaign with an 18-2-3 record and an appearance in the national championship game.
Garey, a senior forward from Gonzales, La., is Maryland’s career leader in goals. This season, he led the Terrapins in goals and points. Garey was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and led Maryland to the NCAA Championship. In 2004, he was a semifinalist for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy.
Plotkin, a senior midfielder from Lisle, Ill., scored eight goals and added 12 assists for the Hoosiers to lead the Big Ten in scoring. He led the Big Ten in game-winning goals (4) and was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week three times. Plotkin was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and was the only unanimous all-conference selection.
Rowland, a former non-recruited walk-on, is the only two-time All-American in school history and the only Lobo to be considered for the Hermann Trophy. The 6-1 senior forward from Albuquerque ranks third in career scoring at New Mexico with 104 points on 45 goals and 14 assists. He is second in goals and ninth in assists at UNM.
“This has been an unbelievable experience for me,” stated Rowland. “To go from a walk-on that wasn’t recruited to being a finalist for the Hermann, it is just amazing. Even though this is an individual award, I couldn’t have done it with the support of my family, my teammates and the coaches at UNM. The ride that Lobo soccer has taken us on for the last four years is something I will never forget.”
Rowland led UNM in scoring each of the last three seasons and guided the Lobos to a 35-3-5 record in the past two years. He is UNM’s all-time leader in NCAA scoring with 13 points on five goals and three assists in nine career tournament games. He is also a two-time Academic All-American. Following the Hermann Trophy Banquet, Rowland will take part in the Major League Soccer pre-draft combine Jan. 12-15 in Carson, Calif., along with teammates Lance Watson and Brandon Moss.