MIAMI (November 28, 2017) – FIU men's soccer standout
Santiago Patino (Orlando, Fla./Freedom) has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the prestigious 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy, based on voting by NCAA Division I soccer coaches.
Click here to see the complete release from the United Soccer Coaches.
"Santi being recognized as a top player in college soccer is great," said FIU men's soccer Head Coach
Kevin Nylen. "He is a top player and had a great season. I'm very happy for him."
Leading the Panthers to one of its most successful seasons in program history, Patino ended the regular season leading Conference USA in almost all offensive categories, including goals, points, goals-per-game, points-per-game, and game-winners. He was tabbed C-USA Offensive Player of the Week five times on the year, and was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, Player of the Year, the Golden Boot Award recipient, and was named First-Team All-C-USA.
On the year, he tallied a total of 35 points and 15 goals, the most the program has seen by an individual player since 1996. Patino led the nation in goals-per-game and points-per-game for several weeks throughout the season, including top-five rankings in total points and goals. His success on the pitch assisted the Panthers in leading the nation in scoring offense for a majority of the 2017 campaign.
The MAC Hermann Trophy, the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer, has been awarded annually since 1967. Three men's finalists and three women's finalists will be named on Dec. 8, in conjunction with the Men's College Cup semifinals in Philadelphia. The 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on January 5, 2018, to announce this year's winners formally.
Click here for more information about the history of the MAC Hermann Trophy.
This season the Panthers posted a 12-2-4 record and a 6-0-2 mark in Conference USA, earning their first-ever C-USA regular season title. The Blue and Gold finished the regular season with an 11-0-4 record, the first time in school history that the Panthers recorded an undefeated regular season. FIU was also one of only two teams in Division I men's soccer to accomplish the feat, joining only Indiana.
The Panthers advanced to its 19
th NCAA Championship, and their 11
th at Division I, winning their first-round game against Omaha, 2-0, on Nov. 16.
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