2025 MAC Hermann Men Semifinalists
Richie Aman
University of WashingtonSenior | Midfielder
Richie Aman, the Big Ten Conference Midfielder of the Year, has led the Husky offense from the jump. He’s tallied 21 total points from four goals, including a double overtime game-winning strike against Oregon State in the NCAA Tournament, and 13 assists – the third-most in the NCAA. His assist total is tied for the second-most ever in a single season in Washington program history. He’s scored two assists in a single game six times this season, including against No. 4 Maryland in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. Aman was also named a Big Ten first team selection and has been a beacon of consistency for the Huskies, starting every match this season while logging 1787 minutes, the fourth-most on the team.
Palmer Ault
Indiana UniversitySenior | Forward
Over 19 games, Indiana senior Palmer Ault modeled production, consistency and versatility. Ault recorded 16 goals and 10 assists against one of the toughest schedules in the nation to become just the second Big Ten player in the 21st century – and first since 2001 – to eclipse 15 goals and 10 assists in a single season. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year scored with his right foot, left foot, inside of the foot, in the air and assisted from open play as well as from three different kinds of set pieces: corner kick, free kick and throw-in. His 42 points rank tied for first in NCAA Division I. Ault scored six of his 16 goals against ranked opponents and produced 22 of his 42 points (7 goals, 8 assists) against Big Ten teams.
Mitchell Baker
Georgetown UniversitySophomore | Forward
A unanimous First Team All-Big East Conference selection as well as being named to the Big East All-Tournament Team. He leads the Hoyas in goals with 14 on the season to go along with three assists for 31 points. Baker also has a team-leading five game winners for the year. His 14 goals rank him eighth in the nation as well. The Hoya offense is leading the country as the squad prepares for the NCAA Quarterfinals. Baker was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week once this season as well as earning three nods to the weekly honor roll.
Marcus Caldeira
West Virginia UniversitySenior | Forward
Concluded one of the finest careers in WVU history with a historic senior season, scoring 14 goals and adding seven assists. He was named the Sun Belt Player & Offensive Player of the Year while earning a spot on the All-Sun Belt First Team. His 35 points led the Sun Belt and is eighth in the nation, as is his 14 goals. Rising to the occasion in the biggest moments, he had six game-winning goals this season, fourth most in the NCAA. In his career, he has been named an All-American, a two-time Academic All-American, and a three-time All-Conference performer.
Junior Diouf
Grand Canyon UniversityFreshman | Forward
Finished the 2025 season with one of the best single season performances in GCU men’s soccer history. The Thies, Senegal, native, scored 18 goals and recorded 42 points, 79 shots, 36 shots on goal, and seven game winners. His goal count currently ranks number one in the country, while his point total is tied for first. Depending on results from the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, Diouf is looking to become the first freshman since Conor Casey of Portland in 1999 to lead the nation in goals at the year’s end. Diouf notched five braces, had 15 games with at least a point, and set the GCU D-I era single season program record for goals and points totaled in a season. Diouf was named WAC Offensive and Freshman of the Year. He also received All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Freshman Team accolades, and helped the Lopes advance to the NCAA D-I Tournament Third Round, the farthest the program has achieved.
Ransford Gyan
Clemson UniversitySophomore | Midfielder
During the 2025 season Gyan has netted 8 goals, which is three more scored than his freshman season (5). Gyan recorded his first career braces in back-to-back matches vs UAB (8/29) and Pittsburgh (9/5). He ranks third in the ACC averaging 0.47 assists per game, seventh in the ACC averaging 0.47 goals per game, third in the ACC with 8 total assists and second in the ACC averaging 1.47 shots on goal per game. Gyan earned two ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors during the 2025 season. He ranks first among the Tigers in goals (8), points (24), shots (52), shots on goal (25) and is tied for first with 8 assists. Gyan started all 17 matches this season with a total of 1317 total minutes played in the 2025 season.
Niklas Herceg
University of VermontSophomore | Goalkeeper
Finished the season with 14-1-5 record, 0.74 GAA (15 goals allowed) and 10 shutouts in 20 matches started. His 10 shutouts was a career high. Herceg tallied 55 total saves over 20 games played…Posted a 0.78 SV% over 20 games played. His 10 shutouts this season is tied for third most shutouts in a single season in UVM men’s soccer history. His 14 wins are the third most in a season by a UVM keeper in UVM men’s soccer history. Allowed just two goals during the Catamounts’ eight conference matches during conference play, the fewest amount allowed in UVM men’s soccer program history. Was the starting goalkeeper for a Vermont squad that became just the third team in UVM men’s soccer history to claim the Regular Season and Conference Titles. • Anchored Vermont to their first ever unbeaten season (Prior to NCAA Tournament), going 14-0-5. Was the starting goalkeeper for a Vermont team that was UVM’s and America East’s first ever No. 1 overall seed heading into a NCAA Tournament regardless of sport.
Diego Hernandez
Furman UniversityJunior | Midfielder
Hernandez, the Southern Conference Player of the Year, has led Furman to a 16-1-5 record, a 14-match unbeaten run and the school’s first trip to the NCAA Division I Men’s College Cup. A native of Mesquite, Texas, Hernandez leads the Paladins with 10 goals, including three match-winning scores, and nine assists this season. He setup the lone goal in Furman’s 1-0 victory over Western Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament before scoring a goal in a 3-3 draw versus Hofstra and converting in the penalty kick shootout to advance the Paladins to the Elite Eight for the second time in school history.
Lassie Kelp
University of MarylandSenior | Defender
The Big Ten Conference Defender of the Year, who played every single minute for the Terps this season, led a fierce Maryland back line that recorded nine shutouts in 2025, the highest mark in the Big Ten. The Terps allowed just 15 goals all season which was the lowest mark in the Big Ten as well. Kelp scored a game tying goal at Penn State in the 85th minute that helped Maryland finish their first undefeated regular season since 2016. The defender also added two assists on the season and scored a crucial penalty kick goal vs. UNC that helped the Terrapins advance to the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Nikola Markovic
North Carolina State UniversitySophomore | Defender
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Markovic appeared and started in all 19 games appeared, averaging 85 minutes a game. Markovic was placed on the Midseason Watch List for the MAC Hermann Trophy. He netted a goal in the season-opening game against Queens and tallied a goal and an assist in the game against Florida Atlantic.
Donavan Phillip
North Carolina State UniversityJunior | Forward
Has a total of 17 goals with a game high of four in the match against William & Mary. He recorded two hat tricks this season, against Wofford and William & Mary. Phillip scored a goal in 11 of 19 games played this season.
Agustin Resch
Seton Hall UniversitySenior | Defender
Resch, the unanimous preseason Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was a disruptive force at the center of a Seton Hall defense that ranked 26th and 39th nationally in goals allowed average (0.832 GAA) and goal differential (+14), respectively. In conference play, the six-foot-six-inch Argentinian centerback helped hold the 17 All-Big East midfielders and forwards the Pirates faced to a combined 28 shots, eight shots-on-goal, two assists and one goal. Offensively, utilizing his size and passing prowess, Resch tallied career-high marks in goals (3) and assists (3), including a game-winning goal over Providence and the opening score in the NCAA Tournament against Siena. At season’s end, he was named both Big East Defensive Player of the Year and to the conference First Team.
Nick Simmonds
University of VirginiaFreshman | Forward
A First Team All-ACC selection, Nick Simmonds was named ACC Freshman of the Year after recording 10 goals and five assists in his debut season with the Cavaliers. His 10 goals were the most by any freshman from power-four programs this season, and he led the ACC with seven goals and 17 points in conference play. Simmonds consistently delivered in Virginia’s biggest moments. He equalized at then-No. 8 Virginia Tech to secure a draw in UVA’s ACC opener, struck twice in a 6–3 win over then-No. 1 Wake Forest, and delivered the game-winner at then-No. 2 NC State. He became the first Cavalier to record a hat trick since 2012 in a seven-point performance against Clemson and assisted on the decisive goal at SMU to clinch the ACC regular-season title. He scored the game-winner in a comeback victory against UNC to send UVA to the ACC semifinal, and his 80th-minute penalty forced overtime—and ultimately a shootout—in the NCAA Second Round.
Slade Starnes
Southern Methodist UniversitySenior | Defender
Named ACC Championship tournament MVP after captaining SMU to win the ACC Championship title, the first ACC championship title for the university. He was named Second Team All-ACC and was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Sep. 30 and Oct. 28. He led the Mustangs’ defense in locking down UVA to no shots on target in the ACC championship match. He and the Mustangs’ backline have contained opponents to an average of only 9.0 shot attempts per game, limiting five teams (Boston College, Cal, LMU, Oral Roberts and Virginia) to five shot attempts or fewer.
Zach Zengue
Georgetown UniversitySenior | Midfielder
Was the Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year and a unanimous First Team all-Big East honoree. His team leading 14 goals and 13 assists for 41 points on the season. He is eighth in the nation in total goals, third in assists and third in the country in points. The senior midfielder has three game winners to his credit for the Hoyas. Zengue was a Preseason All-Big East selection and earned three Big East Offensive Player of the Week awards this season while also being named to the conference Weekly Honor Roll on two occasions. This year’s award was Zengue’s third-career postseason honor after earning a spot on the first team a season ago as well as being named to the third team as a sophomore.