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TopDrawerSoccer is proud to announce the five finalists for the Men’s College Soccer Player of the Year Award. These stars had the most outsized impact on the season, whether it was leading the country in production, proving clutch when the team needed it most, or just balling at a record level.

Junior Diouf, Grand Canyon(m)

When Diouf broke into the TDS Player of the Year Leaderboard halfway through the season, we mentioned how extremely slim the path was to become the first freshman to win the award. First, the Grand Canyon star would have to maintain his outstanding production, which he did by recording a nation-leading 18 goals and 42 points. Second, he would have to win something tangible, which happened when he scored three and assisted two, leading the Lopes to the WAC Tournament title and earning MVP honors. Last and most important, his production had to translate to some type of NCAA tournament run, which occurred when he scored a dramatic 88th-minute game-winner to upset San Diego and lead the program to its first-ever Sweet Sixteen berth. Courtesy of meeting impossibly high standards, Diouf was guaranteed to be a TDS Player of the Year finalist.

Laurie Goddard, Hofstra(m)

A month and a half ago, Goddard was nowhere to be found in the Player of the Year race, then he embarked on a truly remarkable late-season run. The versatile British attacker finished his campaign with nine goals and six assists over the last 10 games, with four of those goals coming in a breathtaking NCAA tournament run in which the Pride won at Syracuse, upset defending champions Vermont, and took No. 1-ranked Furman to penalty kicks. Add that eight of his 15 goals lead the country as game winners, and it is impossible to find a player who impacted tangible winning as much as Goddard this season.

Diego Hernandez, Furman(m)

Hernandez, who entered his junior season as a captain and one of the most highly rated recruits in team history, has lived up to and surpassed the hype. The Paladins are a game away from the first College Cup berth in program history, and the FC Dallas product has fueled the run, leading the team in both goals (10) and assists (9). What is perhaps more impressive is how impactful Hernandez has been in the games that mattered most, whether it was assisting in the second-round defeat of Western Michigan or scoring in the eventual Sweet Sixteen penalty victory over Hofstra.

Daniel Lugo, High Point(m)

Highlighting what it means to be a complete striker, Lugo scored 14 goals on the season, none of which were penalty kicks. Those performances fueled a Big South conference double, during which the redshirt sophomore scored 11 and assisted four in a 13-game mid-season run. To add to his importance, consider that the Florida native managed seven-game winners, which tied for the second highest in the country. Add that this was his first season as a starter after transferring from North Carolina in the off-season, and it is hard to find a player who had a more prominent season. 

Zach Zengue, Georgetown(m)

Enjoying a stellar six-month run, Zengue captained Vermont Green to a USL-2 title over the summer and carried that momentum into the fall, leading a dominant Georgetown squad. The Minnesota native is the nation's only player with at least 14 goals and 13 assists, most of which came in conference play, to lead the team to a Big East double. With the Hoyas one game away from a College Cup berth, Zengue has time to strengthen his bid to become the program's third TDS Player of the Year.

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