University Park, Pa. — Penn State women’s soccer sophomore Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) has garnered her first Hermann Trophy Semifinalist nomination. The crafty midfielder is one of 15 national nominees who will be whittled down to four finalists on Dec. 10 for college soccer’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Nairn, Penn State’s top player, put together another fine season for the Blue and White en route to All-Big Ten First Team honors for the second straight year. She posted seven goals and six assists for 20 points in 2010, while earning a tie for the team lead in game-winning goals with three.
This is the 11th time a PSU women’s soccer student-athlete has reached the semifinal stage of the Hermann Trophy selection. Last season, Katie Schoepfer was a semifinalist, Penn State’s first since Ali Krieger in 2006. The last Nittany Lion to reach the final was Tiffany Weimer in 2005 for the second straight year before being named a runner-up. Penn State’s only Hermann Trophy winner is Christie Welsh back in 2001.
The finalists for the award will be announced on Friday, Dec. 10. The finalists are invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, where the winner will be announced prior to a banquet. Nairn is one of two Big Ten honorees on the list as Ohio State’s senior defender Cassie Dickerson also was named a semifinalist.
Costa Earns Soccer News Net Nomination
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Penn State’s leading scorer Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) landed on the Soccer News Net Player of the Year list as well. Voting closes on December 15 and accounts for 40 percent of the vote in determining the player of the year. The winner will be announced in January. Last year, Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) was named the Philly Soccer News Net Player of the Year.