Raquel Rodriguez Awarded MAC Hermann Trophy

Article by Matt Coleman

On top of the laundry list of awards she’s earned this season, Raquel Rodriguez added another prestigious award to her collection with the MAC Hermann Trophy.

The MAC Hermann Trophy is awarded to the best individual male and female players in Division I soccer each year. Rodriguez became the first Nittany Lion since Christie Welsh in 2001 and the second Nittany Lion ever to receive the award.

It’s been a very eventful year for Rodriguez, who also garnered an NSCAA All-American First Team selection, All-Great Lakes First Team selection, All-Big Ten First Team selection, and the Most Outstanding Player offensively in the College Cup among others.

Rodriguez’s goal in the College Cup final against Duke gave Penn State a 1-0 victory to claim the National Championship. She started all 27 matches for Penn State and recorded six goals and six assists in those matches, with the biggest one being her final one. She was the team’s go-to player, routinely sparking the offense for the Nittany Lions. Her performance throughout the season was a big reason Penn State carried the No. 1 seed into the College Cup.

Rodriguez stands highly in numerous Penn State women’s soccer career statistical categories. She’s in the top-10 in assists and shots on goal and top-20 in points, goals, game-winning goals, shots attempted, and games started.

From her first game as a Nittany Lion, Rodriguez became a leader determined to lead the Nittany Lions to success. Not only did she do that; she earned the elusive award she’s been working so hard to attain. The Costa Rican midfielder can now graduate as a National Champion and a recipient of the most prestigious award in college soccer.