STANFORD, Calif. – Senior forward Kelley O'Hara became the first Stanford player since Julie Foudy in 1992 to be named a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, college soccer's highest honor.

O’Hara was one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s highest honor, by the Missouri Athletic Club on Friday. O’Hara, UCLA forward Lauren Cheney and North Carolina midfielder Tobin Heath will be in St. Louis for the award ceremony on Jan. 8.

O’Hara led the nation in goals (26) and points (65) – shattering school season records in both categories – and had 13 assists, Stanford’s third-highest season total, all while leading the Cardinal to its best-ever record (25-1) and first NCAA finals berth.

A 2009 NSCAA first-team All-America, O’Hara is the Pacific-10 Conference’s Player of the Year and an ESPN The Magazine first team Academic All-American. She has been named to the Hermann Trophy watch list three times, and was a semifinalist in 2007, but now is a finalist for the first time.

The Hermann Trophy has been awarded since 1967 to men’s players, and since 1988 to women’s. Michelle Akers was the first women’s winner, and Mia Hamm won it twice.

There have been only two winners from Bay Area schools: Mani Hernandez of San Jose State won the men’s award in 1968 and Santa Clara’s Aly Wagner won the women’s in 2002.

The only other Stanford women’s finalist was Julie Foudy, in 1991 and ’92.