Fox Named Finalist For MAC Hermann Trophy

Photo by: Tony Tucker

December 5, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Junior U.S. National Team player is one of three finalists for college soccer's top award.

By: Dave Lohse

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – University of North Carolina junior defender/midfielder Emily Fox has been named one of the three finalists for the 2019 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy as the top player in the women's collegiate game this season. The announcement was made Thursday morning by the United Soccer Coaches.

Fox is joined as a finalist by UCLA midfielder Jessie Fleming and Stanford forward Catarina Macario.

Fox, a sophomore from Ashburn, Va., is the first Tar Heel to be named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy since Crystal Dunn in 2013. Dunn is the last Tar Heel to win the award, having captured the coveted prize in 2012

The MAC Hermann Trophy, presented by World Wide Technology, is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967. Three finalists were named for the award on Thursday, Dec. 5 in conjunction with the Women's College Cup in San Jose, Calif. The 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on January 3, 2020 to formally announce this year's winner. Voting for the Hermann Trophy is conducted by the NCAA Division I women's soccer coaches.

Fox's teammates – junior forward Alessia Russo and sophomore midfielder Brianna Pinto – were among the 15 semifinalists for this year's MAC Hermann Trophy.

Emily Fox's Junior Year Biography (2019): Hermann Trophy finalist • first-team United Soccer Coaches Association All-America • first-team All-ACC selection • also named to All-Tournament Team at 2019 ACC Tournament • starter all season on the right side, either on defense or in the midfield • was starting at right midfield position in 3-5-2 formation prior to a knee injury suffered in second half of NCAA quarterfinal game versus USC • only current collegiate player to have earned caps with U.S. Women's National Team • had been called into USWNT Training Camp scheduled for December 9-14 but will now miss that event because of her injury • preseason All-ACC selection • preseason Top Drawer Soccer Bext XI honoree • played with U.S. U23 National Team at Nordic Cup in England from August 28-September 2 • has played in 22 matches overall, starting all 22 • played 1701 minutes in total, the fourth highest total on the squad • her 11 assists lead the Tar Heel squad • tore an ACL in match versus USC and will miss 2019 NCAA College Cup • it is the same ACL she tore midway through 2017 season • started first two games of season, playing first half against Indiana at right midfield and all 90 minutes in shutout of Duke at right back • returned to lineup after the Nordic Cup (missing three matches overall) against UNLV, playing 42 minutes in 8-0 victory • recorded three assists versus Rebels, assisting on first, second and eighth UNC goals • her three-assist game against UNLV was the second of her career • she also had three assists against Syracuse on September 30, 2017 • was limited to 42 minutes at Louisville after a collision with Marz Josephson late in first half • returned to play 79 and 77 minutes in shutout wins over NC State and Notre Dame the following week • assisted on Brianna Pinto's insurance goal against the Fighting Irish • played all 110 minutes in tie at Duke and all 90 minutes in win at Pitt • assisted on Rachael Dorwart's insurance goal in 3-1 win at Pittsburgh • after Carolina moved to the 3-5-2 formation after game against the Panthers, she played all 90 minutes in ACC shutouts of Boston College and Florida State and 90 minutes in come-from-behind win at Miami • named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week after Carolina's shutout wins over FSU and Virginia Tech • played all 90 minutes in ACC Tournament win over Notre Dame and recorded the primary assist on game-winning goal by Lotte Wubben-Moy • played all 192 minutes in ACC Tournament semifinals and finals versus NC State and Virginia • assisted on Alessia Russo's game-winning goal at 101:48 in 2-1 double overtime win over Virginia in ACC Tournament championship game • against Belmont in NCAA first round, she led Tar Heel starters in minutes with 64 • she tallied her first career goal against the Bruins at 27:33 of the match • assisted on goals by Bridgette Andrzejewski at 22:46 and by Alessia Russo at 53:48 in victory over Belmont • had a pair of assists in NCAA Tournament third round win over Michigan • named to Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on November 26 • scored second goal of her career, tying NCAA quarterfinal match versus USC in the 39th minute of an eventual 3-2 Tar Heel victory • named to Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on December 2.