Bell, Kessler Named Semifinalists for MAC Hermann Award

MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Juniors Joe Bell (Wanaka, New Zealand) and Henry Kessler (New York, N.Y.) are two of 15 semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy, annually given by the Missouri Athletic Club to the top college soccer player in America.
 
Virginia and Clemson are the only two schools with multiple semifinalists. Bell and Kessler are among five representatives from ACC programs.
 
A Cavalier has won the MAC Hermann trophy on five different occasions and the last to take home the honor was Alecko Eskandarian in 2002. The last Cavalier semifinalist was Tony Tchani in 2009.
 
The three finalists for the award will be announced next Friday (Dec. 13) in conjunction with the College Cup. Winners (men & women) will be announced on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020 at the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Banquet in St. Louis, Mo.
 
Joe Bell – Midfield – Wanaka, New Zealand
Bell was named the 2019 ACC Midfielder of the Year for the ACC Champion and top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. The only two matches Bell has missed in his three-year stint in Charlottesville came earlier this season when he was called up to the New Zealand full National Team for friendlies in Ireland and Lithuania. Serving as a co-captain for Virginia, Bell has tallied 12 points (4g, 4a) in 19 games in this season. His four assists all came in ACC-play and were the second most amongst his league cohorts. Bell is a perfect 4-for-4 in penalty kicks, the third most in the country. In TopDrawerSoccer.com’s midseason list of Top 100 underclassmen players, Bell was listed No. 1 overall. In the classroom, Bell has been a two-time ACC All-Academic team member and earned CoSida Academic All-District honors this season. 
 
Henry Kessler – Defender – New York, N.Y.
The center back on the top defense in the nation, Kessler has played every minute of all 21 matches for No. 1 Virginia. He was named the ACC Tournament’s Most Valuable player after the Cavaliers captured their first tournament crown in a decade with two shutouts and a 3-1 triumph over the nation’s top-scoring offense in the championship game. The Virginia defense has surrendered just seven goals (fewest in NCAA) in 21 matches and led the country in goals against average (0.33) and shutouts (15). Kessler garnered All-ACC honors for the second-straight year and last season was a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region selection as a sophomore. He has one goal from his defensive position in 2019, a game-tying tally against then-No. 1 Duke on Sept. 13.
 
2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Men’s Semifinalists