Soccer America Player of the Year Award
Encyclopedia
Beginning in 1984, Soccer America Magazine
began naming a college player of the year. At the time Soccer America was the best source for U.S. soccer, especially collegiate soccer which was rarely covered by the national news services. Consequently, its end of year awards have been recognized as among the most important and are listed by the NCAA in its official awards.
Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine is a national American magazine devoted to soccer founded in the early 1970s and is still being published. Its primary focus is soccer in the United States, but it also covers the international game extensively. It was begun by publisher Clay Berling during a period of...
began naming a college player of the year. At the time Soccer America was the best source for U.S. soccer, especially collegiate soccer which was rarely covered by the national news services. Consequently, its end of year awards have been recognized as among the most important and are listed by the NCAA in its official awards.
Men's
- 2010 — Kofi SarkodieKofi SarkodieKofi Sarkodie is a Ghanaian-American soccer player, who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer. He holds both a Ghanaian passport and a United States passport.-Youth, College and Amateur:...
, AkronAkron ZipsOne of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname... - 2009 — Teal BunburyTeal BunburyTeal Bunbury is a Canadian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer...
, AkronAkron ZipsOne of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname... - 2008 — Steve ZakuaniSteve ZakuaniSteve Zakuani is a Congolese footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Born in Zaire , Zakuani grew up in London before attending the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship...
, AkronAkron ZipsOne of the unique nicknames in all of intercollegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron. Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname... - 2007 — O'Brian WhiteO'Brian WhiteO'Brian White is a Jamaica footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
, ConnecticutConnecticut HuskiesThe Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice... - 2006 — Joseph LapiraJoseph LapiraJoseph Lapira is an Irish-American soccer player playing for Nybergsund.-Family:Joseph is the son of Paul and Kate Lapira and brother to Maria and Michael Lapira. Joseph's paternal grandparents were from Malta. Joseph lived in Lake Charles, Louisiana most of his life.-Career:Lapira graduated from St...
, Notre DameNotre Dame Fighting IrishNotre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I... - 2005 — Jason GareyJason GareyJason Garey is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer. He was a member of the MLS Cup 2008 championship team with the Columbus Crew.-Youth and College:...
, MarylandMaryland TerrapinsThe Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition... - 2004 — Ryan PoreRyan PoreRyan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
, TulsaUniversity of TulsaThe University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by... - 2003 — Joseph NgwenyaJoseph NgwenyaJoseph Ngwenya is a Zimbabwean footballer currently without a club.-College:Ngwenya attended the Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo, leading them to the 1999 Zimbabwe National High School Championship, before coming to the United States in 2000 to attend and play college soccer at Coastal Carolina...
, Coastal CarolinaCoastal Carolina UniversityCoastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus... - 2002 — Alecko EskandarianAlecko EskandarianAlecko Eskandarian is a former American soccer player who last played for Los Angeles Galaxy. He currently is the youth technical director for Philadelphia Union.-High School and College:...
, VirginiaVirginia CavaliersThe Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference... - 2001 — Luchi GonzalezLuchi GonzalezLuchi Gonzalez is a former American soccer forward.-Playing career:Gonzalez played four years of college soccer at Southern Methodist University, emerging in 2001, his senior season, to win the Hermann Trophy as college soccer's best player.Upon graduating, Gonzalez was drafted 6th overall in the...
, Southern Methodist - 2000 — Chris GbandiChris GbandiChris Gbandi is a Liberian footballer currently playing for Miami FC in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-College:...
, ConnecticutConnecticut HuskiesThe Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice... - 1999 — Aleksey KorolAleksey KorolAleksey Korol is a Ukrainian soccer forward and coach who has spent most of his career in the United States.-Player:Korol played both hockey and soccer growing up in Ukraine. However, he signed with Dynamo Kiev as a youth player. His family sent him to the United States when he was 14 where he...
, IndianaIndiana HoosiersThe Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball... - 1998 — Wojtek KrakowiakWojtek KrakowiakWojtek Krakowiak is retired Polish-American football midfielder who coaches the Rutgers-Newark women's soccer team. He played professionally in Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
, ClemsonClemson TigersThe Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.... - 1997 — Ben OlsenBen OlsenBenjamin Robert "Ben" Olsen is a former American professional soccer player and the current manager of D.C. United. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Olsen grew up playing for FC Delco, an elite club program near Philadelphia...
, VirginiaVirginia CavaliersThe Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference... - 1996 — Johnny TorresJohnny TorresJohnny Torres is a Colombian-American soccer midfielder and coach who is currently the interim head coach of his alma mater, Creighton University. Torres has played in Major League Soccer, USL-1, and currently also plays for the Omaha Vipers of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He has also earned...
, CreightonCreighton BluejaysThe Creighton Bluejays, or Jays, are the athletic teams of Creighton University, a Jesuit/Catholic University located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Creighton competes in NCAA Division I athletics, competing in the Missouri Valley Conference... - 1995 — Mike FisherMike Fisher (soccer)Mike Fisher is a former U.S. collegiate soccer midfielder. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Fisher chose to pursue a medical rather than soccer career....
, VirginiaVirginia CavaliersThe Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference... - 1994 — A.J. Wood, VirginiaVirginia CavaliersThe Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
- 1993 — Claudio ReynaClaudio ReynaClaudio Reyna is a retired American soccer player and the current USSF US Youth Soccer Technical Director. He was the captain of the United States national team before retiring from international football following the USA's exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is widely considered one of the...
, VirginiaVirginia CavaliersThe Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference... - 1992 — Claudio ReynaClaudio ReynaClaudio Reyna is a retired American soccer player and the current USSF US Youth Soccer Technical Director. He was the captain of the United States national team before retiring from international football following the USA's exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is widely considered one of the...
, VirginiaVirginia CavaliersThe Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference... - 1991 — No winner announced
- 1990 — No winner announced
- 1989 — No winner announced
- 1988 — No winner announced
- 1987 — No winner announced
- 1986 — Paul CaligiuriPaul CaligiuriPaul David Caligiuri is a retired American soccer player.Caliguiri's professional career spanned 16 years, during which he played for numerous teams in the United States and Germany, and for the U.S. national team...
, UCLAUCLA BruinsThe UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
and John KerrJohn Kerr (soccer)John Kerr, Jr. is an American retired soccer midfielder who played professionally in the United States, Canada, England, France and Northern Ireland during a much traveled and varied playing career. He is currently head coach of the Duke University men's soccer team. Kerr was named the 1986...
, DukeDuke Blue DevilsDuke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry... - 1985 — Michael BradyMichael BradyMichael Brady, a native of Coventry, England is a retired English-American soccer player who is an assistant coach for the Duke University men's soccer team. He previously coached the American University women’s soccer team. He played professionally, both indoors and out, in the United States. He...
, AmericanAmerican University EaglesThe American Eagles are the athletics teams that represent the American University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. American is a member of the Patriot League in all sports except wrestling, where it is a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association... - 1984 — Paul DiBernardoPaul DiBernardoPaul DiBernardo is a retired Argentine-American soccer midfielder who coaches youth soccer. He played professionally in the American Indoor Soccer Association and earned one cap with the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth:...
, IndianaIndiana HoosiersThe Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
Women's
- 2010 — Christen PressChristen PressChristen Press is an American soccer player from Palos Verdes Estates, California. She is currently a forward for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer and the United States U-23 women's national soccer team. She was drafted with the 4th overall pick of the 2011 WPS Draft...
, Stanford - 2009 — Kelley O'HaraKelley O'HaraKelley Maureen O'Hara is an American soccer player from Fayetteville, Georgia. She was a forward for the Stanford women's soccer team and is a member of the United States U-23 women's national soccer team. She is the recipient of the 2009 Hermann Trophy...
, Stanford - 2008 — Casey NogueiraCasey NogueiraCasey Nicole Nogueira is a U.S. soccer midfielder who currently plays for the professional Sky Blue FC. She has earned one cap with the United States women's national soccer team in 2007 and was a member of the U.S. U-20 women's team at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship and the 2007...
, North Carolina - 2007 — Lauren CheneyLauren CheneyLauren Nicole Cheney is an American soccer player and member of the United States women's national soccer team. She is currently a forward for Women's Professional Soccer's Boston Breakers.-Career:...
, UCLA - 2006 — Heather O'ReillyHeather O'ReillyHeather Ann O'Reilly , also known by her initials HAO, is a member of the United States women's national soccer team and a two-time Olympic Gold medalist...
, North Carolina - 2005 — Christine SinclairChristine SinclairChristine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian soccer forward who plays professional soccer for the Western New York Flash and is the captain of the Canadian national team. Sinclair has spent ten years with the Canadian national team participating in two World Cups in 2007 and 2003 and the 2008 Summer...
, Portland - 2004 — Katie ThorlaksonKatie ThorlaksonKatie Thorlakson is a female football forward, who twice won a medal with the Canadian women's national soccer team at the Pan American Games, she currently plays with the Melbourne Victory.-References:*...
, Notre Dame - 2003 — Lindsay TarpleyLindsay TarpleyLindsay Ann Tarpley Snow is an American soccer forward currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the United States women's national soccer team. She went to Portage Central High School.-High school:Tarpley grew up in Portage, Michigan, and attended Portage...
, North Carolina - 2002 — Christine SinclairChristine SinclairChristine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian soccer forward who plays professional soccer for the Western New York Flash and is the captain of the Canadian national team. Sinclair has spent ten years with the Canadian national team participating in two World Cups in 2007 and 2003 and the 2008 Summer...
, Portland - 2001 — Aly WagnerAly WagnerAlyson Kay "Aly" Wagner is a former American soccer midfielder who last played for Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer. She was a member of the United States women's national soccer team...
, Santa Clara - 2000 — Anne MakinenAnne MäkinenAnne Maarit Mäkinen is a former Finnish football player, who last played for Swedish club AIK in Stockholm. She was a central midfielder....
, Notre Dame - 1999 — Lorrie FairLorrie FairLorraine Ming "Lorrie" Fair was a member of the World Cup Champion United States national soccer team. Over the span of ten years, she was a part of one World Cup Team and three Olympic teams, and retired from international play in 2005.Her twin sister, Veronica Ching Fair, was also a member of...
, North Carolina - 1998 — Danielle FotopoulosDanielle FotopoulosDanielle Ruth Garrett Fotopoulos is a former American college, professional and international soccer player. Fotopoulos holds the all-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I records for goals and points, and was a member of the University of Florida team that won the 1998 NCAA...
, Florida - 1997 — Sara WhalenSara WhalenSara Whalen Hess was born on April 28, 1976, in Natick, Massachusetts. Whalen played for the United States Women's National Soccer Team from 1997 to 2000, and was a founding player of WUSA.-Soccer career:...
, Connecticut - 1996 — Debbie Keller, North Carolina
- 1995 — Shannon MacMillanShannon MacMillan-References:...
, Portland - 1994 — Tisha VenturiniTisha VenturiniTisha Venturini-Hoch is a former American soccer player and current National Spokesperson for Produce for Better Health.-Career:...
, North Carolina - 1993 — Mia HammMia HammMariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
, North Carolina - 1992 — Mia HammMia HammMariel Margaret "Mia" Hamm is a retired American soccer player. Hamm played many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and was a founding member of the Washington Freedom. Hamm has scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male or female,...
, North Carolina - 1991 — Julie Foudy, Stanford
- 1990 — Kristine LillyKristine LillyKristine Marie Lilly Heavey is a retired American soccer player who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team for 24 years...
, North Carolina - 1989 — Shannon Higgins, North Carolina
- 1988 — Shannon Higgins, North Carolina
- 1987 — Michelle AkersMichelle AkersMichelle Akers is a former leading American association football player, who starred in the historic 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup victory by the U.S.. She won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the 1991 tournament...
, Central Florida - 1986 — April Heinrichs, North Carolina
- 1985 — Lisa Gmitter, George Mason