Nikki Thole Chosen as Hermann Trophy Finalist
8/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 18, 2000
University of Missouri senior Nikki Thole has been named one of the 15 finalists for the prestigious Hermann Trophy, an honor awarded to the top collegiate soccer player in the nation by the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
The nomination highlights a string of 1999 post-season and 2000 preseason award recommendations for the forward. Thole was honored as a second team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America last season after leading the Tigers to a 14-8-1 record and an NCAA first round appearance. She also garnered All-American status from College Soccer Online and SoccerBuzz. Thole was named to the NSCAA and SoccerBuzz all-central region first teams and was tabbed the SoccerBuzz Central Region Offensive Player of the Year.
Thole holds three Missouri records including all-time scorer (122 points), career goals leader (51) and all-time assists leader (21). She has been named to the Big 12 all-conference and all-tournament first teams for the past two years and was an all-conference second team member as a freshman.
Thole finished the 1999 season ranked ninth in the NCAA in goals per match (1.00) and was 11th in points per game (2.39).
The Hermann Trophy has long been considered one of the most coveted individual awards in collegiate soccer. The award is named after Robert R. Hermann, the founding chairman of the North American Soccer League. The trophy was first awarded to the top male collegiate player in 1967. Women were honored with the award beginning in 1988. The Hermann Trophy is displayed in the National Soccer Museum in Oneonta, N.Y.
Thole is the first Big 12 player chosen as a finalist for the Hermann Trophy.
