Aug 20, 2013

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A year after leading the Wildcats with seven goals, seven assists and 21 points, junior Arin Gilliland was named to the Missouri Athletic Club’s Herrmann Trophy Watch List for the 2013 season, it was announced by the MAC on Tuesday afternoon.

The MAC Herrmann Trophy is considered to be the most prestigious honor an individual soccer player can receive. Past winners of the award include US Women’s National Team members Tobin Heath, Mia Hamm, and Canadian International, Christine Sinclair.

The announcement was made on NSCAATV on Tuesday afternoon, as Gilliland was selected among the top 30 players in the nation by the voting committee.

After tearing her ACL in the 2011 Southeastern Conference Tournament, Gilliland recovered with a record-setting season in 2012, leading the Wildcats in goals (7), assists (7), points (21), shots on goal (23) and game-winning goals (3).

Gilliland was also selected to participate in the USWNT Training Camp in California during the April and May training months, where she trained with the best soccer players in the world, looking to earn a spot on the USWNT full team.

In addition to her offseason work with US Soccer, Gilliland also worked with the National Women’s Soccer League’s Portland Thorns, who hoist some of the best players in the world, including 2012 Female Athlete of the Year and Olympic Gold Medalist, Alex Morgan. Gilliland trained with the Thorns, and was involved with all of the team’s daily activities permissible by NCAA rules.

Near the end of the collegiate regular season, NCAA Division I coaches that are National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America members will vote on their top choices and the list will be narrowed down to the top 15. From that pool of 30, six finalists (three men, three women) will be chosen for the award. The winners will be announced Jan. 10, 2013.

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