STANFORD, Calif. – Midfielder Andi Sullivan, defender Tierna Davidson and forward Catarina Macario are among 15 collegiate players named Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy semifinalists, as announced Tuesday by the organization.
It is the second season in a row and fifth time in program history Stanford has had multiple players named semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy, annually awarded to the best collegiate soccer player in the country.
It is the third straight year Sullivan has been named a semifinalist and the first for sophomore Davidson and freshman Macario. Last season, Sullivan and senior defender Maddie Bauer were named semifinalists, with Sullivan being named a finalist.
Stanford is one of four schools with multiple names on the list, joining College Cup opponents Duke, South Carolina and UCLA. The Cardinal is the only program, men or women, with three semifinalists, and the only school with multiple players on both the men's and women's lists – seniors Foster Langsdorf and Tomas Hilliard-Arce were named semifinalist for Stanford's two-time defending national champion men's program.
The 2017 Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year and a four-time All-Pac-12 first-teamer, Sullivan is a three-time Hermann Trophy semifinalist and a finalist in 2016. She is a three-time All-Pacific Region selection and two-time first-team All-American, owning seven caps with the full United States Women's National Team. Sullivan was the 2016 Pac-12 Player of the Year, the 2014 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention (2015-16) and is a three-year captain (2015-17).
Sullivan has appeared in 85 contests on The Farm, totaling 19 goals, including eight game winners, and 19 assists. She has two goals this season, including one in Stanford's 4-0 win over Penn State in the NCAA quarterfinal (Nov. 24). Stanford's leader on the pitch, Sullivan has taken up a deeper role after leading the team in goals (11) and points (29) in 2016.
She controls the tempo of play, can interchange with any of Stanford's four defenders, break up play with her tackling ability, accurately deliver set pieces and has the ability to make powerful runs into the box. She missed three games this season while on duty with the United States National Team – she was called up on Oct. 11 for games against South Korea and Oct. 31 for games against Canada.
Davidson was named Pac-12 Defender of the Year after a fantastic season on both ends of the pitch. She helped Stanford achieve the Pac-12's lowest goals-against average (0.32) and most shutouts (15) during the regular season. Since her move from midfield to center back following Stanford's 3-2 loss at No. 8 Florida, Stanford is 20-0-0 with a 75-4 goal difference.
Davidson has been crucial to Stanford's defensive record, playing nearly every minute of the season as either a defensive midfielder or center back. A member of the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list in August, Davidson earned multiple Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors during the regular season, in which she helped Stanford achieve a perfect 11-0-0 clip in Pac-12 play, including just two goals conceded.
A member of the All-Pac-12 first team, Davidson has also pitched in three goals and six assists on the season – her most noteworthy attacking contribution came in the NCAA third round against Florida State. With the game tied at 0-0 in the 79th minute, Davidson won the ball on the edge of Stanford's penalty area before embarking on an 80-yard run through several Florida State defenders to set up Jordan DiBiasi's game winner. On Sept. 7, Davidson earned her second call-up to the full United States National Team after training with the side for the first time on January 13-23. Of the 22 September call-ups, Davidson was the lone uncapped player and the only current college student-athlete.
Macario was named Pac-12 Forward of the Year and Freshman of the Year while leading the league in goals (17), assists (13) and points (47) entering the College Cup. Nationally, she tops Division I players in points and assists and ranks fourth in goals. She was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and the All-Freshman team after earning two Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors during league play.
In postseason play, Macario has three goals and three assists, including a goal and two helpers in Stanford's opening-round win over Utah Valley. She scored at least once in each of the Cardinal's first seven games, with assists in each of the last four during that span. Over her last nine games, she has eight goals and six assists, including two spectacular goals against Oregon (Oct. 19) and an equally impressive free kick during a 3-1 win at No. 5 USC (Oct. 29).
Entering the College Cup, Macario's 47 points ties with Lyndsay Taylor (2011) for fifth on the all-time single-season list. Her 17 goals passes Sarah Rafanelli (1992), Christen Press (2008) and Taylor (2008) for fifth on the single-season list, while her 13 assists ties Marcie Ward (2002), Julie Foudy (1992) and Kelley O'Hara (2009) for fourth. Her 128 shots sit fourth on the all-time list, passing Chioma Ugogagu (2014) and Taylor (2011) in the win over Penn State.
The 15 semifinalists for the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy were determined by All-America voting conducted by NCAA Division I women's soccer coaches with oversight from the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women's Senior College All-America Committee.
The three finalists, including the recipient of the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy, will be determined by voting conducted by NCAA Division I women's soccer coaches combined with a fan vote conducted on MACHermannTrophy.org. The three finalists will be announced Dec. 8, and the winner will be announced at the Missouri Athletic Club banquet in St. Louis, Missouri, on Jan. 5.
Full Selections
Michaela Abam • Sr. • F • West Virginia
Rachel Corboz • Sr. • F • Georgetown
Tierna Davidson • So. • D • Stanford
Imani Dorsey • Sr. • F • Duke
Grace Fisk • So. • D • South Carolina
Jessie Fleming • So. • M • UCLA
Indigo Gibson • Sr. • D • California
Vanessa Gregoire • Sr. • M • Princeton
Catarina Macario • Fr. • F • Stanford
Hailie Mace • Jr. • F • UCLA
Savannah McCaskill • Sr. • F • South Carolina
Casey Murphy • Jr. • GK • Rutgers
Rebecca Quinn • Sr. • M • Duke
Andi Sullivan • Sr. • M • Stanford
Brianna Visalli • Sr. • M • Pepperdine