Fernandez, Lapa Picked as MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
11/27/2018 12:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Omir Fernandez and Bruno Lapa are two of the 15 semifinalists for the top award in college soccer.
ST. LOUIS -- Omir Fernandez and Bruno Lapa were picked as semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the United Soccer Coaches announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The award is given annually to the top player in college soccer, and has been won by a Demon Deacon in back-to-back years as Jon Bakero claimed the 2017 award and Ian Harkes won the 2016 honor.
Fernandez and Lapa are the fifth and sixth semifinalists in the four-year tenure of head coach Bobby Muuss. In addition to Bakero and Harkes, Jacori Hayes was a semifinalist in 2016 and Jack Harrison also earned that recognition in 2015.
"I'm proud that the success of Omir and Bruno have been recognized across the nation," Muuss said. "People forget that neither of these two started a game last year. In the offseason, they made a commitment to themselves and to the team to put in the work necessary to take their games to the next level. It has been a pleasure watching their hard work pay off and seeing them develop into high-level soccer players and young men."
After spending his freshman season as the sparkplug off the bench, Fernandez developed into the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. Fernandez is tied for the ACC lead with 30 points and ranks second with 12 goals in addition to six assists. He has netted a conference-best five game-winning goals, including three against ACC foes and another in the NCAA Tournament.
No Deacon got off to a hotter start than Lapa. He totaled five goals and four assists through the first four games, and maintained steady production throughout the season. The ACC Midfielder of the Year fueled the attack for the No. 2 offense in the country, leading the ACC with nine assists. His 10 total goals rank tied for fourth in the ACC and he's third with 29 points, just one behind the co-leaders.
Wake Forest and Indiana are the only two programs with two honorees. There are four total semifinalists from the ACC, as Fernandez and Lapa are joined by North Carolina's Alex Comsia and Duke's Daniele Proch.
MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
Giuseppe Barone, Michigan State
Tanner Beason, Stanford
Tucker Bone, Air Force
Alex Comsia, North Carolina
Omir Fernandez, Wake Forest
Andrew Gutman, Indiana
Jack Hallahan, Michigan
Cal Jennings, UCF
Bruno Lapa, Wake Forest
Callum Montgomery, Charlotte
Trey Muse, Indiana
Daniele Proch, Duke
Camden Riley, Pacific
Andre Shinyashiki, Denver
JJ Williams, Kentucky
The award is given annually to the top player in college soccer, and has been won by a Demon Deacon in back-to-back years as Jon Bakero claimed the 2017 award and Ian Harkes won the 2016 honor.
Fernandez and Lapa are the fifth and sixth semifinalists in the four-year tenure of head coach Bobby Muuss. In addition to Bakero and Harkes, Jacori Hayes was a semifinalist in 2016 and Jack Harrison also earned that recognition in 2015.
"I'm proud that the success of Omir and Bruno have been recognized across the nation," Muuss said. "People forget that neither of these two started a game last year. In the offseason, they made a commitment to themselves and to the team to put in the work necessary to take their games to the next level. It has been a pleasure watching their hard work pay off and seeing them develop into high-level soccer players and young men."
After spending his freshman season as the sparkplug off the bench, Fernandez developed into the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. Fernandez is tied for the ACC lead with 30 points and ranks second with 12 goals in addition to six assists. He has netted a conference-best five game-winning goals, including three against ACC foes and another in the NCAA Tournament.
No Deacon got off to a hotter start than Lapa. He totaled five goals and four assists through the first four games, and maintained steady production throughout the season. The ACC Midfielder of the Year fueled the attack for the No. 2 offense in the country, leading the ACC with nine assists. His 10 total goals rank tied for fourth in the ACC and he's third with 29 points, just one behind the co-leaders.
Wake Forest and Indiana are the only two programs with two honorees. There are four total semifinalists from the ACC, as Fernandez and Lapa are joined by North Carolina's Alex Comsia and Duke's Daniele Proch.
MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
Giuseppe Barone, Michigan State
Tanner Beason, Stanford
Tucker Bone, Air Force
Alex Comsia, North Carolina
Omir Fernandez, Wake Forest
Andrew Gutman, Indiana
Jack Hallahan, Michigan
Cal Jennings, UCF
Bruno Lapa, Wake Forest
Callum Montgomery, Charlotte
Trey Muse, Indiana
Daniele Proch, Duke
Camden Riley, Pacific
Andre Shinyashiki, Denver
JJ Williams, Kentucky
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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