Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Duo On Hermann Trophy Watch List
August 11, 2010 | Cowgirl Soccer
Aug. 11, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Oklahoma State soccer standouts Annika Niemeier and Adrianna Franch are two of the 45 players on the Missouri Athletic Club's 2010 Women's Hermann Trophy Watch List, it was announced today by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer, the recipients of the MAC's Hermann Trophy are selected by Division I head coaches who are current members of the NSCAA.
OSU is one of 10 schools with multiple players on the '10 Hermann Trophy Watch List, and this marks the fourth-straight year a Cowgirl player has appeared on the list. This year's duo joins Yolanda Odenyo (2007 and 2008) and Kasey Langdon (2009) in earning that distinction. Odenyo was one of 15 semifinalists for the award in '08.
“It's quite an honor to have two of our players named to the watch list for the Hermann Trophy,” OSU head coach Colin Carmichael said. “I believe Annika and AD are both thoroughly deserving of this recognition because I have no doubt that they are both up there with the other elite college soccer players in the nation.
“I am thrilled for them and very excited to watch them lead our team during the upcoming season.”
A native of Germany, Niemeier is coming off a junior season in which she earned All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors after leading OSU with 11 goals. Seven of those were game winners, a total that led the Big 12. During the Cowgirls' eight-game winning streak late in the season, which included three wins at the Big 12 Soccer Championship, she scored seven goals and notched three assists.
Niemeier enters her senior season ranked among the top 10 all-time at OSU in career goals (20), assists (14) and points (54).
Franch is coming off an impressive freshman campaign in which she earned All-Big 12 First Team and All-Central Region First Team honors while rewriting the Cowgirl record books.
The Salina, Kan. native set OSU records with 11 shutouts and a 0.61 goals against average and led the Big 12 in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage (.843). Franch, who was also named to the NSCAA All-Central Region First Team, the TopDrawerSoccer.com All-Rookie First Team and the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team, recorded 75 saves during the 2009 season.
Earlier this year, Franch earned a spot on the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team and became the first OSU player to compete for a U.S. National Team.
A list of 15 semifinalists for the 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy is selected by a coaches committee in November, and three finalists are chosen in early December. The winner will be announced in January.
