Jon Bakero and Andi Sullivan receive college soccer’s top honor

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (January 5, 2018) – Wake Forest University senior forward Jon Bakero (Sitges, Spain) and Stanford University senior midfielder Andi Sullivan (Lorton, Va.) were presented with the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy on Friday at the Missouri Athletic Club’s annual banquet.

The MAC Hermann Trophy, a 10-pound crystal soccer ball awarded annually since 1967, honors the United Soccer Coaches National Players of the Year in NCAA Division I men’s and women’s soccer based on voting conducted by NCAA Division I coaches.

Bakero contributed 16 goals and 14 assists in 2017 as a team captain to lead the nation in scoring with 46 points, second most in Demon Deacons history and most by a Wake Forest player since 1983. The ACC Offensive Player of the Year caps a four-year collegiate career with 37 goals and 26 assists, and becomes the second straight player from Wake Forest to receive the MAC Hermann Trophy after Ian Harkes earned the award a year ago.

Runners-up for the men’s award were Stanford University senior defender Tomas Hilliard-Arce (Matthews, N.C.) and Indiana University senior defender Grant Lillard (Hindale, Ill.).

Sullivan tallied three goals and six assists in 2017 to captain Stanford to their second national championship, scoring in the NCAA Women’s College Cup final. The Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year and a three-time All-America First Team selection, Sullivan claims the MAC Hermann Trophy after recovering from a torn ACL in 2016. Sullivan, who has made seven appearances for the United States Women’s National Team, caps her college career with 20 goals and 18 assists.

Runners-up for the women’s award were UCLA sophomore midfielder Jessie Fleming (London, Ontario) and University of South Carolina senior forward Savannah McCaskill (Chapin, S.C.).

Bakero will next attend the 2018 MLS adidas Player Combine from Jan. 11-17 at Orlando City Stadium in Florida, while Sullivan will join the U.S. Women’s National Team for a training camp from Jan. 6-21 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in California.