Wake Forest Athletics
Caiya Hanks Named 2024 MAC Hermann Semifinalist
12/4/2024 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The junior standout is the second player in program history to be named a semifinalist and first since 2011.
KANSAS CITY – In the midst of one of the most productive offensive seasons in Wake Forest women's soccer history, junior forward Caiya Hanks has been named a 2024 MAC Hermann Semifinalist, as announced by United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Wednesday afternoon.
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967.
Hanks is just the second player in Wake Forest history to achieve the feat, following Katie Stengel in 2010 and 2011. She will look to make her case to be the first finalist in program history as the Demon Deacons compete in the 2024 College Cup this weekend, beginning with the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 6 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
Three women's finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2025, to formally announce this year's winners.
After an incredible start to the NCAA Tournament, Hanks has propelled herself into the top 10 in program history in points, goals and assists for a single season.
Her first-half strike against USC was her 11th goal of the season, which moved her into sole position of third in Wake Forest history with 33 total points and now only trails Stengel's 2010 (37) and 2011 (46) seasons. She then recorded her 11th assist of the season in the second half, which tied Elizabeth Remy (2005) for the most ever as a Demon Deacon in a single season.
Additionally, she is currently tied for the most total points (10) and assists (4) in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, while also sitting tied for fifth in goals (3).
"It is such an honor to be named a MAC Hermann Semifinalist," Hanks said. "To be just the second player in Wake Forest history to achieve this, despite all of the phenomenal talent that came before me, is truly something special. While it's my name on the list, this award is a testament to how well the team has performed around me over the last four months."
After coming in and earning ACC All-Freshman honors in 2022, Hanks has developed into a remarkable all-around player, teammate and student.
Caiya Hanks Through the Years
"My coaches, as well as hard work and dedication, have helped me improve all aspects of my game over the last three seasons to get to this point. I hope to take this momentum into Cary this weekend and help the team achieve our goals, the job is not done!"
With her assist in the second round, she became just the sixth player at the D1 level this season to reach 10 goals and 10 assists, and third to do so in program history, joining Anne Shropshire (1998) and Kaley Fountain (2009).
Heading into the College Cup, Hanks ranks fifth out of all players in the ACC in total points, seventh in goals, and fourth in assists. Additionally, her 18 points in conference play ranked second in the ACC and her seven goals were tied for the most.
Hanks has added four game-winning goals this season, which ranks third in the conference. The Hawaiian has also recorded seven games this season with multiple goal contributions, including two in the NCAA Tournament alone against Morehead State (two goals, two assists) and USC (one goal, one assist). Of note, her four goal-contributions in the first round earned her a spot on TopDrawerSoccer's National Team of the Week.
Despite only being a junior, she is already sixth all-time in program history in career assists with 18. She is also now five points away from cracking the top 10 in that category as well, currently sitting at 54.
Earlier this year, Hanks became the 10th Wake Forest player to be tabbed All-ACC First Team and first since Aubrey Bledsoe in 2013.
Full List of Semifinalists
Hanks and the rest of the Wake Forest women's soccer team is set to take on Stanford in the College Cup semifinals this Friday, Dec. 6 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The match is slated for 5 p.m. and will be shown live on ESPNU.
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The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967.
Hanks is just the second player in Wake Forest history to achieve the feat, following Katie Stengel in 2010 and 2011. She will look to make her case to be the first finalist in program history as the Demon Deacons compete in the 2024 College Cup this weekend, beginning with the semifinals on Friday, Dec. 6 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
Three women's finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2025, to formally announce this year's winners.
After an incredible start to the NCAA Tournament, Hanks has propelled herself into the top 10 in program history in points, goals and assists for a single season.
Her first-half strike against USC was her 11th goal of the season, which moved her into sole position of third in Wake Forest history with 33 total points and now only trails Stengel's 2010 (37) and 2011 (46) seasons. She then recorded her 11th assist of the season in the second half, which tied Elizabeth Remy (2005) for the most ever as a Demon Deacon in a single season.
Additionally, she is currently tied for the most total points (10) and assists (4) in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, while also sitting tied for fifth in goals (3).
"It is such an honor to be named a MAC Hermann Semifinalist," Hanks said. "To be just the second player in Wake Forest history to achieve this, despite all of the phenomenal talent that came before me, is truly something special. While it's my name on the list, this award is a testament to how well the team has performed around me over the last four months."
After coming in and earning ACC All-Freshman honors in 2022, Hanks has developed into a remarkable all-around player, teammate and student.
Caiya Hanks Through the Years
| Season | Goals | Assists | Points | Awards |
| Freshman | 1 | 3 | 5 | ACC All-Freshman |
| Sophomore | 6 | 4 | 16 | Second-Team All-ACC |
| Junior | 11 | 11 | 33 | First-Team All-ACC |
| Totals | 18 | 18 | 53 | — |
With her assist in the second round, she became just the sixth player at the D1 level this season to reach 10 goals and 10 assists, and third to do so in program history, joining Anne Shropshire (1998) and Kaley Fountain (2009).
Heading into the College Cup, Hanks ranks fifth out of all players in the ACC in total points, seventh in goals, and fourth in assists. Additionally, her 18 points in conference play ranked second in the ACC and her seven goals were tied for the most.
Hanks has added four game-winning goals this season, which ranks third in the conference. The Hawaiian has also recorded seven games this season with multiple goal contributions, including two in the NCAA Tournament alone against Morehead State (two goals, two assists) and USC (one goal, one assist). Of note, her four goal-contributions in the first round earned her a spot on TopDrawerSoccer's National Team of the Week.
Despite only being a junior, she is already sixth all-time in program history in career assists with 18. She is also now five points away from cracking the top 10 in that category as well, currently sitting at 54.
Earlier this year, Hanks became the 10th Wake Forest player to be tabbed All-ACC First Team and first since Aubrey Bledsoe in 2013.
Full List of Semifinalists
- Macy Blackburn (Texas Tech)
- Brooklyn Courtnall (Southern California)
- Bella Diorio (TCU)
- Jordynn Dudley (Florida State)
- Kailyn Dudukovich (Ohio State)
- Izzy Engle (Notre Dame)
- Kate Faasse (North Carolina)
- Maggie Graham (Duke)
- Caiya Hanks (Wake Forest)
- Khyah Harper (Minnesota)
- Macey Hodge (Mississippi State)
- Taylor Huff (Florida State)
- Lilly Reale (UCLA)
- Helena Sampaio (Southern California)
- Ava Tankersley (Arkansas)
- Scored her first goal of the season with a late equalizer against Rutgers (8/18) and followed that up with her first assist of the campaign in the next match against Temple (8/22).
- Logged two assists in the 5-0 victory over UNC Asheville (9/8).
- Recorded her first-career brace with two first-half goals in the 3-0 road win over No. 2 Virginia (9/15).
- Named ACC Offensive Player of the Week (9/17)
- Helped Wake Forest earn its first-ever win over a No. 1 team as she assisted Emily Colton's winner against Stanford (9/19).
- Had five goals and three assists over a four-game span as Wake Forest continued to prove their contender status.
- Was exceptional and played a role in all three goals against Syracuse on the road, scoring twice and picking up another assist (9/29).
- Notched a goal and helped Wake Forest knock-off the defending national champions Florida State (10/3).
- Had a goal and an assist in back-to-back road games against SMU (10/19) and Pitt (10/24).
- Became the first Wake Forest player in over a decade to be named First Team All-ACC (11/6).
- Shined in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, scoring twice and notching two assists all in the first half as Wake Forest defeated Morehead State (11/15).
- Named to the CSC Academic All-District Team (11/19) and TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week (11/20).
- Became just the sixth player in the nation to reach 10 goals and 10 assists on the season as she logged an assist in the second-round win over Colorado (11/22).
- Helped Wake Forest advance to the second College Cup in program history with a goal and an assist at USC (11/29).
- Named MAC Hermann Semifinalist (12/4).
Hanks and the rest of the Wake Forest women's soccer team is set to take on Stanford in the College Cup semifinals this Friday, Dec. 6 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The match is slated for 5 p.m. and will be shown live on ESPNU.
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