Men's Soccer Elon Media Relations

Elon?s Thomas Named to 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List

ELON, N.C. - Reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year Chris Thomas has been named to the 2011 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List. The Elon junior is the lone SoCon player on the list of 42 players.

"This is great recognition for Chris and for our program," commented Elon head coach Darren Powell. "To be considered one of the best players in the country prior to the season is an honor. Chris has recovered well from an injury late last year and we are really pleased with his progress. We hope Chris will work hard and help lead this team to another successful season."

Considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer, the recipients of the MAC's Hermann Trophy are selected by Division I soccer coaches who are current members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). A coaches committee selects a list of 15 semifinalists in November, with three finalists announced in early December.

Elon has now had a player on the Watch List in each of the last two years as goalie Clint Irwin made the list in 2010.

After being named the league's freshman of the year in 2009, Thomas put together another dominating performance during his sophomore season. He netted a team-high 10 goals, the most in the SoCon during the regular season. The forward was a first-team all-conference selection and honored on the NSCAA All-South Region first team. Thomas, a native of Snellville, Ga., knocked in three game-winning goals, which included the lone score in Elon's first-ever win over Old Dominion. He earned league player of the month accolades in September after netting a goal in a stretch of five consecutive games.

Thomas and the Phoenix will take to the field tomorrow in their first exhibition game of the season when they travel to UNC Asheville to take on the Bulldogs at 4 p.m. The regular season kicks off on Saturday, August 27 when Elon hosts High Point in Rhodes Stadium at 8 p.m.