Musovski Named To Hermann Trophy Watch List

For the second straight year, UNLV senior Danny Musovski is one of 31 men’s soccer players named to the 2017 MAC (Missouri Athletic Club) Hermann Trophy Watch List, the organization and the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) announced Tuesday. Annually presented to one male and one female athlete, the MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in NCAA soccer.

This is the first time in program history a Rebel has been named to the Watch List twice, and just the third time overall as Rodrigo Fuentes was the first to earn the recognition in 2015.

Musovski, a native of Las Vegas, missed five games in the non-conference season in 2016 with a leg injury, but came back strong to post 12 goals and six assists en route to a 30-point season. That was just three points off his career-high 33-point season in his sophomore campaign during which he was a second-team All-American (United Soccer Coaches) as well as the 2015 WAC Offensive Player of the Year.

“Danny has earned the respect of my peers around the nation due to the outstanding performances he’s produced over the last three years,” said UNLV head coach Rich Ryerson. “He has represented the University extremely well on and off the field and has been an outstanding Rebel. Based on the opponents we have scheduled for this year, Danny will be challenged to perform at his highest level day in and day out, and that can only better prepare him for his opportunities in the professional leagues.”

Despite his missed games in the first half of the 2016 season, the forward made his impact in conference play with seven goals, including a pair of multi-goal contests. He continued that scoring streak into the WAC Tournament, posting both goals in the championship game to give the Rebels a 2-1 victory over Air Force and an auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament. Musovski was named the WAC Tournament MVP for the second time in three years thanks to his heroics, and also picked up first team all-league honors and was a second team all-region honoree. He enters his final season ranked in a tie for sixth in career scoring with 81 points, while he is eighth with 32 career goals.

This year’s winners will be announced on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. The watch lists are compiled by the United Soccer Coaches’ Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I All-America Committees, based on analysis of returning All-America and All-Region players, as well as any prominent newcomers.

At the end of the collegiate regular season, NCAA Division I coaches will vote on their top choices and the lists will be narrowed down to the top 15 players. College soccer fans will also have the opportunity to participate in the selection process, voting for their favorite semifinalist in November at the MAC Hermann Trophy website, lockerdome.com/machermanntrophy. From that pool of 30, six finalists (three men, three women) will be chosen for the award.