Returnees Notre Dame midfielder Greg Dalby (Poway, Calif.) and Duke midfielder Michael Videira (Milford, Mass.) are among the 15 players named as semifinalists for the 2006 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy. Considered to be college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy, the winner of the award is selected by  NCAA Division I coaches who are members in good standing with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

The two midfielders are making a repeat appearance on the ballot after earning the distinction in 2005. Dalby has started every match for the Fighting Irish during the last two seasons and was named the Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year, while Videira earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 2006 ACC Tournament. Dalby is joined on the ballot by teammate Joseph Lapira (Lake Charles, La.) as Notre Dame is one of three teams with two players on the ballot. Reigning national champion Maryland offers midfielders Maurice Edu (Fontana, Calif.) and Stephen King (Medford, N.J.) while SMU, which spent a majority of the season ranked No. 1 in the NSCAA/adidas poll, placed midfielder Bruno Guarda (Piracicaba, Brazil) and Jay Needham (Fort Worth, Texas) on the list.

The winner will be determined in voting by NSCAA Division I member coaches. Three men's and three women's finalists will be announced on Monday, Nov. 27. The winners will be announced at a banquet in St. Louis, Mo., hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club on Saturday, Dec. 2, where they will be presented with the prestigious crystal soccer ball which has come to symbolize the highest individual achievement in intercollegiate soccer.

An exhibition featuring the current and past winners of the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy is on display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y.

2006 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Men's Semifinalists

Andrew Boyens, D, Sr., New Mexico, Dunedin, New Zealand
Ranks fifth on the Lobos’ squad with two goals and three assists for seven points … started all 17 matches this season …named Mountain Pacific Soccer Federation Player of the Week Oct. 9 … named to the NMYSA Classic All-Tournament team … 2005 third-team NSCAA/adidas All-America.

Greg Dalby, M, Jr., Notre Dame, Poway, Calif.
Started every match for the Fighting Irish this season, logging more than 1,600 minutes of play … named Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year … has scored two goals this season … named to the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic All-Tournament team … making second consecutive appearance on M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalists list.

Charlie Davies, F, Jr., Boston College, Manchester, N.H.
Leads the Eagles in scoring with a school record 15 goals and six assists for 36 points … named Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year …leads the league in seven offensive categories, including points, goals, shots and game-winning goals (six).

John DiRaimondo, M, Sr., Saint Louis, St. Louis, Mo.
Leads the Billikens in scoring with 15 points (five goals, five assists) … named first-team All-Atlantic-10 Conference … was conference’s men’s soccer Student-Athlete of the Year … also tabbed league’s co-Player of the Week after scoring two goals and adding two assists against Connecticut … has 28 career assists, good for a tie for sixth on the SLU all-time list … making his second appearance on M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalist list.

Maurice Edu, M, Jr., Maryland, Fontana, Calif.
Fourth in scoring for the Terrapins with five goals and four assists for 14 points … four of his tallies have been game-winners … named a first-team all-ACC selection.

Bruno Guarda, M, So., SMU, Piracicaba, Brazil
Conference USA Player of the Year … also named first-team all-C-USA selection … has scored five goals and added six assists for 16 points this season … leads the Mustangs in shots (48) … named to all-tournament teams at the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Classic and the SMU Mi Cocina Classic.

Tally Hall, GK, Sr., San Diego State, Gig Harbor, Wash.
Has posted a 9-4-4 record with a 0.99 goals-against average thus far this season … started all but one match for the Aztecs … registered six shutouts … leads Pacific-10 Conference in saves and shutouts …  co-most valuable player of the Soccer Post/Aztec Classic and later earned all-tournament honors at the USD/SDSU Soccer Classic … named league’s player of the week Sept. 26. … 2005 third-team NSCAA/adidas All-America.

Julius James, D, Jr., Connecticut, Maloney Gardens, Trinidad
Named Big East Conference Defender of the Year for the second consecutive season … additionally was a first-team All-Big East selection … also garnered the league’s preseason defender of the year honor … central defender of a Huskies backline that has held opponents to 1.12 goals per game, allowing just 21 in 18 contests …played in all 18 games this season … has one goal to his credit.

Stephen King, M, Jr., Maryland, Medford, N.J.
Has made the start in all 20 matches thus far this season, adding to his “iron man” status of having never missed a start in his collegiate career ... has six goals and seven assists for 19 points, good for second on the Terrapin squad … a second-team All-ACC selection in 2006 … earned NSCAA National Player of the Week honors Sept. 6.

Joseph Lapira, F, Jr., Notre Dame, Lake Charles, La.
Has started every match this season … selected Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year … leads all NCAA Division I men’s scorers with 20 goals and 45 points on the season … named Big East Offensive Player of the Week three times during the season … scored a season high four goals, including the game-winner in overtime, in a 5-4 victory at Indiana.

Jay Needham, D, Sr., SMU, Fort Worth, Texas
Earned Conference USA Defender of the Year honors in 2006 … also named a first-team all-conference performer … anchors a defense that has tied a school record with 14 shutouts on the season … has started every match this season … registered three goals and three assists for nine points … recorded 28 shots.

Yannick Reyering, F, So., Virginia, Mettingen, Germany
Leads the Cavaliers in scoring with nine goals and seven assists for 25 points … has tallied five game-winning goals … leads the team with 61 shots … named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference for the second consecutive year … earned NSCAA National Player of the Week honors Sept. 13.

Dane Richards, F, Sr., Clemson, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Named a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection … leads team with 10 goals and eight assists for 28 points … also the team’s leader in shots (56) … has appeared in all 18 matches thus far for the Tigers.

Jarrod Smith, F, Sr., West Virginia, Havelock North, New Zealand
A first-team All-Big East Conference selection as a forward after scoring 14 goals and adding four assist for 32 points in 15 matches … his 14 goals and 32 points are both league single-season records … has five game-winning goals … earned NSCAA National Player of the Week honors Sept. 27.

Michael Videira, M, Jr., Duke, Milford, Mass.
Has six goals and six assists and has started in 17 games thus far for the Blue Devils … named the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Tournament for his efforts in Duke’s championship run … was a first-team All-ACC selection for the second consecutive season … named to ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District team … making his second appearance on the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy ballot.

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