The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967. Most recently, Duncan McGuire (Creighton) and Michelle Cooper (Duke) received the award for outstanding intercollegiate performances last year.
A national-best four Stanford women’s soccer players, including Aikey, were among the 56 players named to the 2023 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List earlier this year.
Aikey, a United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection, has been named Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 first team this season. The native of Palo Alto, Calif. has scored in nine of 23 matches this year, and after scoring in the final two last year, has scored in 11 of her last 25. Aikey has contributed a point in 16 of the 23 matches this season, and has scored in five of the last 14 entering the College Cup. Aikey ranks first in the Pac-12 in assists (10) and points (32), second in goals (11) and game-winning goals (4), and fourth in goals per game (.48). Highlighting her season, Aikey recorded a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over California on November 3 to conclude the regular season – the third multi-goal game of her career. For her efforts, Aikey was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week.
A Cardinal player has claimed three of the last six MAC Hermann trophies, with Andi Sullivan earning the award in 2017, followed by Catarina Macario becoming a back-to-back winner in 2018 and 2019. Kelley O’Hara became the first Stanford player to win the MAC Hermann Trophy at the conclusion of the 2009 season. O’Hara was followed by Christen Press (2010) and Teresa Noyola (2011) to bring Stanford’s total to six winners.
Highlights from this year’s list include three returning semifinalists, Notre Dame senior defender Eva Gaetino, Georgetown GR5 defender Julia Leas, and Brown senior forward Brittany Raphino.
Three women’s finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 5, 2024, to formally announce this year’s winners.
The men’s semifinalists will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 6…
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