KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sophomore defender Cory Brown was named to the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List on Wednesday, making him just one of 30 Division I men’s players selected.
It marks the third time a Xavier player has been selected to the watch list. A former BIG EAST Defender of the Year and current Toronto FC defender, Nick Hagglund was selected to the watch list in 2012 and 2013.
Brown was joined on the MAC Hermann Watch List by four other players from the BIG EAST Conference, including Georgetown’s Brandon Allen and Joshua Yaro, as well as Creighton’s Timo Pitter and Fabian Herbers.
During his rookie season, Brown was one of just two freshmen nationally to make an NSCAA regional first team in addition to picking up All-BIG EAST Second Team and BIG EAST All-Rookie Team nods.
As a group, Xavier’s 11 shutouts and 0.84 GAA were both program records and Brown’s steady presence in the backline was a big reason. The freshman stepped into the starting lineup immediately and did not miss a match in 2014. Brown’s 23 starts tied a program record and his 2,119 minutes played led XU.
On top of his defensive role, Brown added three goals and three assists from the back row and was the team’s fifth-leading scorer.
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer presented annually to one male and one female athlete. The winners will be announced Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, at the trophy presentation banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
On Monday, the NSCAA released its preseason rankings and the Musketeers were voted No. 19 to start the year. It marks the first time in program history XU will enter a season ranked. Xavier finished the 2014 season with a program record 15 wins and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
