UCSB’s Nick DePuy
UC Santa Barbara junior forward Nick DePuy has been named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest individual award in college soccer, it was announced today by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
DePuy becomes the fourth Gaucho ever to be named a semifinalist for the award, and the first since Luis Silva in 2011.
The recipients are selected by head coaches of Division I programs who are members of the NSCAA. Three finalists will be announced on Friday, Dec. 11 and will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) in St. Louis for a news conference on Jan. 8, where the winner will be announced.
The nomination comes on the heels of a superlative junior season for DePuy in which he was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and proved himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the entire country.
At the conclusion of the regular season, DePuy led all Division I players in both goals (15) and game-winning goals (eight).
Since being converted to a forward on Sept. 26, 2014, no other player in Division I men’s soccer has more goals than him (24). Earlier this season, the All-League First Team selection became the first athlete ever to win three consecutive Big West Offensive Player of the Week awards after a stretch in which he scored six goals (including four game-winners) over a five-game period.
In addition, the six-foot-four DePuy was named the National Player of the Week on Oct. 5 after potting three goals and two game-winners in away wins at UC Irvine and Cal State Northridge.
DePuy ended up pacing all Big West players in goals, points (31), and shots (80). With the Irvine native as the focus of the attack, the Gauchos went on to have the Big West’s best offense, recording a league-high 42 goals as a team.
UCSB ended the 2015 campaign with a 14-7-2 record, a ninth Big West regular season championship, a third straight North Division title, and its 12th trip to the NCAA Tournament. With a league-high nine All-Conference honorees, including Coach of the Year Tim Vom Steeg and Freshman of the Year Geoffrey Acheampong, the Gauchos ended up advancing to the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in program history.
