Two make the cut for the second time; Indiana and UCLA have multiple representatives

A pair of senior forwards are making a return appearance among the 15 semifinalists being considered for the 2005 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in intercollegiate soccer.

Jason Garey of Maryland and Matt Groenwald of St. John's are back 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 mutliple 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.

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)...named to the all-tournament team at the Maryland adidas Classic...first-team All-West Coast Conference selection as a sophomore...third-team NSCAA/adidas All-America in 2004.

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...also collected an assist in the game...scored the game-winning goal against Pittsburgh...unanimous All-Big East first-team selection...member of the U.S. Men's U-20 National Team at the 2005 World Youth Championships.

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)...became Maryland's career leader in goals...twice named ACC Player of the Week...has six game-winning goals this season...2005 ACC Offensive Player of the Year...first-team All-ACC selection...2004 third-team NSCAA/adidas All-America...making second appearance on M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalists list.

Matt Groenwald, Graduate, Forward, Mt. Prospect, Ill., St. John's
Leads the Red Storm with five goals and 14 points...tied for team lead with four assists... already has eclipsed his point total from last season...earned Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors Sept. 19 after scoring two goals against Notre Dame Sept. 16...making second consecutive appearance on the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalists list...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...scored first collegiate goal on penalty kick versus Loyola Marymount Sept. 11...scored game-winning goal at Washington Oct. 7...starter on the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team at the 2005 World Youth Championships, scoring his first international goal in a 2-0 friendly victory against China.

Aaron King, Sr., Forward, Denver, Colo., North Carolina State
Has 33 points, the most by a North Carolina State player in 14 years...his 15 goals rank second in the ACC...scored at least one goal in 13 of 18 games this season...scored in first each of the six contests of 2005...scored two goals against Charlotte and Boston College...a first-team All-ACC selection for the third straight season.

Sacha Kljestan, Jr., Midfielder, Huntington Beach, Calif., Seton Hall
Has tallied career highs in goals (nine), assists (13) and points (31) this season...ranks fourth nationally in assists per game (0.72) and 19th in points per game (1.72)...among NCAA leaders in assists as well...first-team All-Big East for second consecutive season...Big East Offensive Player of the Year...2004 first-team NSCAA/adidas All-America selection...member of the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team at the 2005 World Youth Championships.

Justin Moose, Sr., Forward, Statesville, N.C., Wake Forest
Leads the Demon Deacons in points (19)...has five goals and nine assists...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...Wake Forest's career assists leader...2004 first-team NSCAA/adidas All-America selection.

Randi Patterson, Jr., Forward, Hackensack, N.J., UNC-Greensboro
Leads UNC-Greensboro and the Southern Conference with 39 points, which also ranks in top 10 nationally...also leads league with six game-winning goals...has a point in 13 of 18 games this season...first-team All-Southern Conference for second consecutive season...named Southern Conference Player of the Year for the second straight year, making him first player in 20 years to earn the award in back-to-back seasons...2004 NSCAA/adidas All-America first-team selection.

Jacob Peterson, Jr., Forward, Portage, Mich, Indiana
Leads the Hoosiers and the Big Ten with 12 goals and 26 points...became 10th Indiana player to register multiple hat tricks during his career after a three-goal performance against Boston University Sept. 11...first-team All-Big Ten selection for second consecutive year...helped lead Hoosiers to back-to-back national titles during his first two seasons...member of the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team at 2005 World Youth Championships.

Brian Plotkin, Sr., Midfielder, Lisle, Ill., Indiana
Leads the Big Ten in points (26) and game-winning goals (four)...named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week three times during the season...scored game-winner Nov. 3 against No. 1 Akron in overtime...only unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection…Big Ten Player of the Year...helped lead Hoosiers to back-to-back national titles each of the last two seasons.

Jeff Rowland, Sr., Forward, Albuquerque, N.M., New Mexico
Leads the Lobos and the Mountain Pacific Soccer Federation in scoring with 29 points on 13 goals and three assists...tied for 13th nationally in goals...has four game-winning goals on the season...recorded second career hat trick against UNLV...named MPSF Player of the Week twice during the year...first-team NSCAA/adidas All-America in 2004.

Michael Videira, So., Midfielder, Milford, Mass., Duke
Second on the Blue Devils with eight assists and tied for fifth with 14 points...registered a point in seven straight games from Sept. 18-Oct. 7...recorded an assist in five consecutive games earlier in the campaign...started in 18 of 19 matches and is third on team with 1,475 minutes played...a first-team All-ACC selection...was the 2004 ACC Freshman of the Year.

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)...scored first career goal against No. 3 California Sept. 30...ranks third on team with three...member of the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team at World Youth Tournament, assisting on the game's only goal in the opening round victory against eventual tournament champion Argentina.

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)...scored first career goal against Ohio State...named to Big Ten all-tournament team...a second-team All-Big Ten selection for second straight year...started every match in which he has played at Indiana...a part of an Indiana team that has won back-to-back national championships in his first two seasons.

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