Yan Klukowski and David Tyrie Named to Hermann Trophy Watch List
Central Connecticut teammates Yan Klukowski and David Tyrie have
been named to the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch
List. The list, which is comprised of 48 Division I players and
was released on Tuesday, is considered the highest individual honor
in intercollegiate soccer. Klukowski and Tyrie are one of only
seven pairs of teammates on the list and two of three Northeast
Conference players listed.
NSCAA Hermann Trophy
Watch List
"This is an amazing honor for David and Yan," Head Coach Shaun
Green said on Tuesday morning following the announcement. "To have
one player listed is an honor but to have a pair of players among
the top-48 on the Hermann Trophy Watch List is a testament to the
hard work and dedication of the players in our program. Both David
and Yan are deserving to be listed among the best in the country,
and we are pleased that they have been recognized. They will do a
great job representing our program this season."
Considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate
soccer, the recipients of the MAC's Hermann Trophy are selected by
Division I head coaches who are current members of the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America. A list of 15 semifinalists
is selected by a coaches committee in November, with three
finalists announced in early December. They will be invited to the
Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., for a news conference on
Jan. 9, 2009, where the winner will be announced, with a
presentation banquet following.
Both Tyrie and Klukowski were instrumental in Central Connecticut's
run to the Sweet 16 of the 2007 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship a
year ago. The Blue Devils captured the NEC Championship with a 1-0
win over St. Francis (PA) to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The
Blue Devils then went on to make history by recording the
first-ever NCAA Tournament win for a men's program at CCSU with a
3-2 victory over Harvard on the road. They then went on the road
to defeat Tulsa 3-2 in the round of 32 to advance to their first
Sweet 16. Following the season the Blue Devils finished nationally
ranked in the NSCAA poll for the first time in school history.
Both Tyrie and Klukowski are three-time All-Conference award
winners for the Blue Devils. Tyrie was the NEC Tournament Most
Valuable Player and NEC Defensive Player of the Year last season.
Klukowski led the nation in assists in 2006 and has led the league
in assists per game in each of the last two seasons. He was also
named the 2005 NEC Rookie of the Year.
The Blue Devils, who open preseason camp today, begin the 2008
season on Tuesday, September 2 at 7 p.m. at Holy Cross.

