Nov. 9, 2006
ST. LOUIS - San Diego State's Tally Hall (Gig Harbor, Wash./Gig Harbor HS) has been named a semifinalist for the 2006 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy. The award, considered to be college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy, is given annually to the top collegiate player in the nation.
Hall is the only goalkeeper on the list of the 15 semifinalists and the only player from the Pac-10. Three men's and three women's finalists will be announced on Monday, Nov. 27 and the winner, which is voted on by NSCAA Division I member coaches, will be announced at a banquet in St. Louis, Mo., on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Hall, an All-America selection by three publications last season, is 9-4-4 with a 0.99 goals against average and 79.8 shots-on-goal save percentage. In Pac-10 play, Hall was even better, going 5-1-3 and leading the conference in shutouts (four), goals against average (0.72) and shots-on-goal save percentage (0.72).
A preseason All-America selection by College Soccer News, Hall was named Co-Most Valuable Player of The Soccer Post/Aztec Classic and later garnered all-tournament accolades at the USD/SDSU Soccer Classic. On Sept. 26, he was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week for the first time in his career and on Oct. 2 he was selected to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week.
Last season, Hall led the country with an 88.9 shots-on-goal save percentage and was second with a 0.49 goals against average. He was also selected first-team all-Pac-10 and all-Far West Region after setting a school record with 12 shutouts.
Four Aztecs - Chris Keenan (1987), Marcelo Balboa (1988-89) and Kyle Whittemore (1988) - have been named Hermann Award finalists, but no SDSU athlete has ever won the award.