United Soccer Coaches Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Penn State men's soccer senior midfielder Aaron Molloy was named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2019 Men's MAC Hermann Trophy, based on voting by NCAA Division I men's soccer coaches and as announced by the United Soccer Coaches and Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Tuesday.
The MAC Hermann Trophy, presented by World Wide Technology, is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer, widely considered the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, and has been awarded annually since 1967.
Molloy had a standout final season for the Nittany Lions in 2019, highlighted by being named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. Additionally, the Dublin, Ireland, native earned unanimous All-Big Ten first team honors.
The team captain netted nine goals and added six assists for 24 total points this season as he helped lead the Nittany Lions to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in five years. Molloy had the most goals and most total points in a season since Connor Maloney in 2014 (10G, 3A, 23 pts.). His total points ranked first in the conference and top 50 nationally (46) while his goals total was second in the conference and 52nd nationally.
Molloy is only the third Nittany Lion men's soccer student-athlete all-time to be named a semifinalist, joining Corey Hertzog (2010) and Ricardo Villar (2000, 2001). Jim Stamatis is Penn State's lone winner of the Hermann Trophy in 1979 when the award was also in conjunction with National Player of the Year honors.
He is the only 2019 semifinalist from the Big Ten.
Three finalists will be named for the award on Friday, Dec. 13 in conjunction with the Men's College Cup in Cary, N.C. The 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will he held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2020 to formally announce this year's winners.
2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Men's Semifinalists
Josh Bauer, New Hampshire
Tanner Beason, Stanford
Joe Bell, Virginia
Matthew Bentley, Missouri State
Miguel Berry, University of San Diego
Blake Bodily, Washington
Anders Engebretsen, Saint Mary's (CA)
Cal Jennings, UCF
Henry Kessler, Virginia
Bruno Lapa, Wake Forest
Philip Mayaka, Clemson
Aaron Molloy, Penn State
Eddie Munjoma, SMU
Dylan Nealis, Georgetown
Robbie Robinson, Clemson
