The University of Akron Athletics
Jaaskelainen Named Semifinalist for Prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy Award
December 11 | Men's Soccer
VOTE EMIL | EMIL JAASKELAINEN FOR MAC HERMANN TROPHY AWARD | 2024 MAC HERMANN TROPHY SEMIFINAL AWARD RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Akron men's soccer redshirt senior forward Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England), the nation's leading scorer, has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Award the United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) announced on Wednesday (Dec. 11).
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967. Most recently, Ousmane Sylla (Clemson) and Onyi Echegini (Florida State) received the award for outstanding intercollegiate performances last year.
Three men's finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday (Dec. 18) after voting by NCAA Division I coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches. The 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner will then be announced at a press conference at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2025, followed by a dinner to celebrate all of the 2024 finalists.
Akron fans are encouraged to vote for Emil Jaaskelainen. Go to machermanntrophy.com for the men's semifinal ballot with the collective fan vote being the equivalent of one coach's vote.
Jaaskelainen garnered First-Team All-Region accolades this season for the second time and is now eligible to garner All-America honors when the United Soccer Coaches unveils its 2024 class on Friday, Dec. 13.
Jaaskelainen started all 21 games for Akron in 2024 en route to recording an NCAA-best 23 goals and 54 points, while also leading the nation in game-winning goals (6), goals per game (1.10) and points per tilt (2.57). He also ranks fourth in the nation in shots (4.38) and shot on goal (2.14) per match and 34th in total assists (8), while finishing the campaign posting the second-highest single-season goal total in program history en route to be a unanimous choice as BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-BIG EAST selection. Overall, he recorded nine multi-goal affairs on the season.
Jaaskelainen ranked first in the BIG EAST in goals (1.10), points (2.57), shots (4.38), shots on goal (2.14) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (23), shots (92), shots on goal (45), points (54) and game-winning goals (6) and rating fourth in assists (8). In league-only affairs, he led the BIG EAST in total goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), as well as goals (1.50), points (3.50), shots (4.25), shots on goal (2.25) and game-winners (0.50) per contest, while rating third in total assists (4) and fifth in assists per tilt (0.50).
In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, Jaaskelainen recorded 12 of his NCAA-leading 23 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), while ranking second in assists (4). He delivered a hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12), while posting league braces versus Marquette (Oct. 26), Creighton (Oct. 23), DePaul (Oct. 19) and Butler (Sept. 20).
Jaaskelainen is first in D1 among active leaders in points (154) and goals (66), second in points per game (1.83) and in goals per tilt (0.79), 13th in assists (22), 22nd in assists per contest (0.26) and 24th in games played (84). Across all divisions, he is rated third in career goals (66) and points (154), 16th in points per contest (1.83) and 18th in goals per tilt (0.79).
2024 Men's MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Akron men's soccer redshirt senior forward Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England), the nation's leading scorer, has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Award the United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) announced on Wednesday (Dec. 11).
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967. Most recently, Ousmane Sylla (Clemson) and Onyi Echegini (Florida State) received the award for outstanding intercollegiate performances last year.
Three men's finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday (Dec. 18) after voting by NCAA Division I coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches. The 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner will then be announced at a press conference at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2025, followed by a dinner to celebrate all of the 2024 finalists.
Akron fans are encouraged to vote for Emil Jaaskelainen. Go to machermanntrophy.com for the men's semifinal ballot with the collective fan vote being the equivalent of one coach's vote.
Jaaskelainen garnered First-Team All-Region accolades this season for the second time and is now eligible to garner All-America honors when the United Soccer Coaches unveils its 2024 class on Friday, Dec. 13.
Jaaskelainen started all 21 games for Akron in 2024 en route to recording an NCAA-best 23 goals and 54 points, while also leading the nation in game-winning goals (6), goals per game (1.10) and points per tilt (2.57). He also ranks fourth in the nation in shots (4.38) and shot on goal (2.14) per match and 34th in total assists (8), while finishing the campaign posting the second-highest single-season goal total in program history en route to be a unanimous choice as BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-BIG EAST selection. Overall, he recorded nine multi-goal affairs on the season.
Jaaskelainen ranked first in the BIG EAST in goals (1.10), points (2.57), shots (4.38), shots on goal (2.14) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (23), shots (92), shots on goal (45), points (54) and game-winning goals (6) and rating fourth in assists (8). In league-only affairs, he led the BIG EAST in total goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), as well as goals (1.50), points (3.50), shots (4.25), shots on goal (2.25) and game-winners (0.50) per contest, while rating third in total assists (4) and fifth in assists per tilt (0.50).
In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, Jaaskelainen recorded 12 of his NCAA-leading 23 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), while ranking second in assists (4). He delivered a hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12), while posting league braces versus Marquette (Oct. 26), Creighton (Oct. 23), DePaul (Oct. 19) and Butler (Sept. 20).
Jaaskelainen is first in D1 among active leaders in points (154) and goals (66), second in points per game (1.83) and in goals per tilt (0.79), 13th in assists (22), 22nd in assists per contest (0.26) and 24th in games played (84). Across all divisions, he is rated third in career goals (66) and points (154), 16th in points per contest (1.83) and 18th in goals per tilt (0.79).
2024 Men's MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
| Name | Class | Pos | School | Hometown |
| Michael Adedokun | Sr. | MF | Ohio State | Eurwa, Nigeria |
| Jesus Barrera | Sr. | F | Missouri State | Cadiz, Spain |
| Sam Bassett | Sr. | MF | Denver | Littleton, Colo. |
| Ulfur Bjornsson | So. | F | Duke | Hafnarfjorour, Iceland |
| Kyle Cusimano | GR-5 | D | Bowling Green | Bay Village, Ohio |
| Joran Gerbet | GR-5 | MF | Clemson | Valence, France |
| Alex Harris | So. | F | Cornell | Vancouver, Wash. |
| Emil Jaaskelainen | GR-5 | F | Akron | Bolton, England |
| Siggi Magnusson | GR-5 | D | Ohio State | Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland |
| Taimu Okiyoshi | Sr. | MF | Marshall | Kobe, Japan |
| Sergio Ors Navarro | GR-5 | F | West Virginia | Castellon, Spain |
| Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos | Sr. | F | Marshall | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Bailey Sparks | Sr. | MF | Southern Methodist | Plano, Texas |
| Wessel Speel | GR-5 | K | Duke | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Casper Svendby | Jr. | D | Pittsburgh | Drammen, Norway |
Players Mentioned
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