Wake Forest's Bone and Opara named MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalists

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Wake Forest juniors Corben Bone and Ike Opara are among 15 semifinalists for the 2009 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, the top individual honor in college soccer.

Wake Forest and Akron each had two players on the semifinalist list.

Bone and Opara are trying to become the second straight Wake Forest player to win the Hermann Trophy. Last season, Marcus Tracy won the award after finishing his senior year with 13 goals and 10 assists. Sam Cronin was also one of the three finalists for the award in 2008.

The 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Bone has scored two goals and 12 assists in 2009, ranking fourth on the team with 16 points. The Plano, Texas, native ranks second in the ACC in assists and is 13th nationally in assists per game. For his career, Bone has 37 assists, which ranks second in school history. He also has 65 career points, placing him 10th in school annals.

Opara was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. Considered one of the top central defenders in college soccer, Opara has contributed to five shutouts in 2009 and 19 over the past two seasons. A member of the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Opara has contributed three goals and two assists.

Considered the highest individual honor in college soccer, the recipient of the Hermann Trophy is selected by Division I head coaches who are current members of the NSCAA. The three finalists for the award will be announced on Friday, December 11. The winner of the Hermann Trophy will be announced on January 8, 2010, in St. Louis, Mo.

Wake Forest returns to action on Saturday, hosting UCLA in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Start time at Spry Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET).

2009 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Semifinalists

Andre Akpan, F, Sr., Harvard
Anthony Ampaipitakwong, M, Jr., Akron
Corben Bone, M, Jr., Wake Forest
Teal Bunbury, F, So., Akron
Ryan Kinne, M, Jr., Monmouth
Zach Loyd, D, Sr., North Carolina
Danny Mwanga, F, So., Oregon State
Kyle Nakazawa, F, Sr., UCLA
Conor O’Brien, M, Sr., Bucknell
Ike Opara, D, Jr., Wake Forest
Colin Rolfe, F, So., Louisville
Toni Stahl, M, Sr., Connecticut
Tony Tchani, M, So., Virginia
Bobby Warshaw, M, Jr., Stanford
Garrett Webb, F, Sr., Drake