Virginia's Doniak, Sonnett Named to Hermann Trophy Watch List

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Aug. 5, 2015

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Two members of the Virginia women’s soccer team are among the 28 student-athletes tabbed on the watch list for the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, released Wednesday by the NSCAA. Returning All-Americans Makenzy Doniak (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif.) and Emily Sonnett (Sr., Marietta, Ga.) each earned a spot on the list.

A two-time NSCAA First-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC honoree, Doniak was a semifinalist for the 2014 Hermann Trophy, which was won by teammate Morgan Brian. Doniak led the ACC in scoring in 2014, tying the UVa single-season record with 20 goals and posting a school-record 51 points. In Virginia’s 7-0 victory over Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament round of 16, she set the school record for points in a game with eight, recording her second career hat trick to go along with two assists. Doniak also had a seven-game goal-scoring streak last season, the second-longest streak in school history.

Sonnett earned NSCAA Third-Team All-America honors last season. She anchored a Cavalier defense that recorded a 0.62 goals against average, posted 12 shutouts and allowed just 5.7 shots per game last season. Offensively, Sonnett contributed five goals, including the game-winning goal in the NCAA College Cup semifinals against Texas A&M.

Near the end of the collegiate regular season, the list will be narrowed down to the top 15 players. From that pool, three finalists will be chosen for the award. The winner will be announced in January. Brian won the award following the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Ranked No. 2 nationally by the NSCAA in the preseason poll, UVa reports for fall camp later this week and begins its exhibition schedule on Aug. 14 against Illinois before returning home Aug. 17 for a friendly with Maryland. The Cavaliers start the regular season on Sunday, Aug. 23, at Klöckner Stadium against UNC Wilmington.