WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University men’s soccer sophomore midfielder Anderson Asiedu (Dormaa Ahenkro, Ghana/St. Benedict’s) has been has been named to the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy Watch List, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced today. Asiedu joins Joseph Schmid (2013), Ryan Clark (2012), RJ Allen (2011), Max Hamilton (2011), Anthony Vazquez (2011), Ryan Kinne (2009, 2010), Bryan Meredith (2010), Chase Barbieri (2009) and Tom Gray (2007) as recent Monmouth selections to the MAC Herman Trophy Watch List, while becoming the first sophomore in program history to garner the prestigious attention. Asiedu is one of 30 Division I men’s college soccer players to be listed this year.
“It is a tremendous honor for Anderson to be named to the Herman Award Watch List,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “This list recognizes the top college soccer players in the country. The Herman Award Winner is the top player in college soccer. Anderson will be a sophomore this year. For him to make this list as a sophomore is quite an amazing achievement. We are very excited for him and look forward to another great season from him this year.”
A highly-decorated recruit out of high school, Asiedu quickly established himself as a holding center midfielder for the 2015 MAAC Regular Season Champion Hawks’ in his freshman season. Adept at dispossessing the opponent while utilizing his speed and technical skill, the freshman also went forward and finished the season with two goals and four assists. For his effort, he earned NSCAA All-Northeast Region First Team, All-MAAC First Team and MAAC All-Rookie Team accolades. Asiedu registered his first-career points with a goal in the Hawks’ 3-1 victory over Villanova, while also scoring in a 3-1 win against Saint Peter’s. He also distributed assists in wins over Holy Cross, Seton Hall, Siena and Manhattan.
The Hawks open the 2016 season at home on Friday, August 26 at 7 p.m. against the University of Denver. The Hawks and Pioneers had two of the three longest unbeaten streaks in the nation last season. Denver went 15-1-3 a year ago, getting to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before taking its first loss. The 18-game unbeaten streak tied for the longest in the nation with Georgetown, one game ahead of the Hawks’ 17-game unbeaten streak. The match will be the first in the all-time series.