Julia Ashley, a 2015 graduate of Verona High School, has been named to the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch Lists, presented by World Wide Technology. Ashley, who is now in her fourth year as a starter at right back for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels, was one of just 77 male and female NCAA Division I players named to the list.
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. This year’s winners will be announced Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
A total of 45 players are included on the Women’s Watch List, headlined by 2017 finalist Jessie Fleming of UCLA and five 2017 semifinalists; Stanford junior Tierna Davidson, South Carolina junior Grace Fisk, Stanford sophomore Catarina Macario, UCLA senior Hailie Mace and Rutgers senior Casey Murphy. Seventeen of the 45 players were United Soccer Coaches All-Americans last season.
The MAC Hermann Trophy Watch Lists are compiled by members of the United Soccer Coaches Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I All-America Committees. Fifteen semifinalists will be named for both the men’s and women’s MAC Hermann Trophy near the end of the college season based on voting by NCAA Division I coaches and from those candidates, three finalists will ultimately be placed on the ballot for the coveted award.
Ashley was the captain of the 2017 UNC women’s soccer team and was named first team to the NCAA Division I Women’s All-East Region Team. This past March, she was called up to the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team.
Photo courtesy University of North Carolina.
