United Soccer Coaches Release | UnitedSoccerCoaches.org | MACHermannTrophy.org

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (United Soccer Coaches/SMU) – Senior Mauro Cichero was named to the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the United Soccer Coaches announced Tuesday. This is Cichero's second consecutive year named to the preseason watch list after being named a semifinalist in 2015. Cichero is one of 31 student-athletes on the preseason edition of the list.

Cichero played in 15 games for the Mustangs last season, scoring three goals on 44 shots and tallied one assist. As a sophomore, Cichero helped lead the Mustangs to a 15-3-4 record, an American Athletic Conference regular season title and to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015. The Norman, Oklahoma native was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-Conference selection. Cichero finished his second season on the Hilltop ranked first on the team in goals (10), points (29) and shots (71), and second in assists (9).

In three seasons with the Mustangs, Cichero has started 52 matches and has tallied 15 goals, including six game winners, and 14 assists.

The last Mustang to win the award was SMU great Luchi Gonzalez following the 2001 season. Gonzalez was also the 2001 NSCAA Player of the Year when the awards were separate. Daniel Hernandez was honored with the NSCAA award as well in 1997.

The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer, presented annually to one male and one female athlete by the United Soccer Coaches (USC), formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Near the end of the collegiate regular season, USC member coaches from NCAA Division I programs will vote for the top 15 semifinalists. On Nov. 29, the semifinalists will be announced and fan voting opens. Voting closes on Dec. 7 and the three men's finalists will be announced Dec. 8, 2017. The MAC Hermann Trophy winner will be announced during the trophy presentation banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 5, 2018.

For more information about the MAC Hermann Trophy visit MACHermannTrophy.org.