Aug. 19, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Junior defender Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo.) has been named to the 2008 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List for the upcoming season. Considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer, the recipients of the MAC's Hermann Trophy are selected by Division I head coaches who are current members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Cardenas is one of 11 defenders and 18 juniors on the list.
Cardenas, a two-time NSCAA/adidas all-Far West team selection and all-Pac-10 pick, has eight goals and two assists over his first two seasons. The 2006 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and an U.S. U-20 National Team Camp call-up, Cardenas has started all 36 games he has appeared in, anchoring a defense that has posted 13 shutouts over the past two years.
A list of 15 semifinalists will be selected by a coaches committee in November, with three finalists announced in early December. They will invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., for a news conference on Jan. 9, 2009, where the winner will be announced, with a presentation banquet following.
Five Aztecs - Chris Keenan (1987), Marcelo Balboa (1988-89), Kyle Whittemore (1988) and Tally Hall (2006) - have been named Hermann Award finalists, but no SDSU athlete has ever won the award.
San Diego State kicks off its season on Sept. 5 when it plays host to Big Ten power Michigan at 4 p.m. in the first game of The Courtyard Marriott, Central San Diego Tournament.
For a complete list of all 48 players on the list, please click here.