PISCATAWAY, NJ – Rutgers women’s soccer sophomore Carli Lloyd (Delran, NJ) has been named one of the 15 female finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, which recognizes the Division I player of the year.

“It feels good to be a finalist for such a prestigious award,” Lloyd said. “It’s exciting. I was surprised at first to hear that I was a finalist. It is a huge honor and I am very humbled by it.”

Lloyd, the 2002 Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and a two-time first-team all-BIG EAST selection, led the Scarlet Knights with 31 points (12 goals, seven assists) this season. Following her freshman campaign, the midfielder was named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), Soccerbuzz and Collegesoccer.com. Lloyd also was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and the Soccerbuzz Mid-Atlantic Region Freshman of the Year after collecting 37 points (15 goals, seven assists) in 2001.

“I think Carli’s inclusion is appropriate because I truly believe that she is one of the best players in the country,” third-year Rutgers head coach Glenn Crooks said. “The best part of this is that she still has room for improvement. At the same time, as everyone saw at the BIG EAST Tournament, she has a dimension that other players don’t have. If she continues to work hard and focus on those small parts of her game, hopefully she will win this award someday.”

Lloyd is the second Rutgers player to be named a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. In 1991, goalkeeper Saskia Webber was named a candidate for the Hermann Trophy. She went on to win the Honda Outstanding Achievement Award for Women’s Collegiate Athletics as well as the National Goalkeeper-of-the-Year Award as a senior in 1992.

Lloyd is one of three sophomores to be named finalists for this year’s Hermann Trophy, joining Portland’s Christine Sinclair and Texas’ Kelly Wilson.

The winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy will be announced, along with the members of the NSCAA/adidas All-America teams, Dec. 12 at the Men’s College Cup in Dallas, TX.

Rutgers finished the 2002 season with a 10-8-2 overall record, advancing to the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament.

2002 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Finalists
Susan Bush, Sr., F, North Carolina
Abby Crumpton, Sr., F, Michigan
Christine Latham, Sr., F, Nebraska
Carli Lloyd, So., M, Rutgers
Lauren Orlandos, Sr., D, Portland
Kim Patrick, Sr., F, Tennessee
Nandi Pryce, Jr., D, UCLA
Alyssa Ramsey, Jr., F, North Carolina
Catherine Reddick, Jr., D, North Carolina
Christine Sinclair, So., F, Portland
Hope Solo, Sr., GK, Washington
Aly Wagner, Sr., M, Santa Clara
Marcia Wallis, Sr., F, Stanford
Christie Welsh, Sr., F, Penn State (2001 winner)
Kelly Wilson, So., F, Texas