Jan. 4, 2012
Philly Soccer News Release | Vote for Maya as All White Kit's Forward of the Year
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - For the third straight year, a Penn State Nittany Lion took home Philly Soccer News Women's Player of the Year honors as Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) was tabbed as the website's 2011 honoree. Hayes travels to St. Louis this weekend for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy award presentation, which is presented to the nation's top player.
Hayes, who led the nation in scoring (31 goals) and points (70), follows a line of Nittany Lions who took home Philly Soccer News' award. Last season, Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) was recognized by the online publication, while Danielle Toney won the award in 2009. Hayes is also among the finalists for Soccer News Net Women's College Boot, which is awarded to the national player of the year.
Hayes beat out other student-athletes that play in the region as well as athletes who are from the region, but play at other schools. The 2011 Big Ten Forward of the Year, Hayes tallied nine game-winners, while setting the Penn State and Big Ten record for most points in a season. The 31 goals were the most scored by any Division I women's player since 2005 when Portland's Christine Sinclair put 39 in the back of the net, besting Penn State's last Hermann Trophy finalist, Tiffany Weimer (32 goals).
Yesterday, Hayes was called into U.S. U-20 training camp in Chula Vista, Calif. along with teammate Kori Chapic (Novelty, Ohio). The camp, which runs from tomorrow until Jan. 19, is first of a couple camps leading up to the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in March hosted by Panama. Hayes was a U-20 World Cup participant in 2010.
Hayes is also up for All White Kit's Forward of the Year Award--fans can vote HERE.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: @PSUWomensSoccer
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PSUWomensSoccer
--NITTANY LIONS--