NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt soccer continues its historic year with Hannah McLaughlin and Sydney Watts being named semifinalists for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy for the first time in program history Tuesday.
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967.
McLaughlin, a senior defender, started in all 24 contests for the Commodores in a season that saw the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance. Out of Cummings, Georgia, McLaughlin anchored a defense that registered 14 shutouts, the most since the program record was set at 15 in 2005. The Dores’ defense allowed just 14 goals, the least amount since 2013. McLaughlin was named All-SEC First Team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.
Watts, a forward, started all 24 matches for the black and gold and registered over 2,500 minutes of action. The junior led the SEC in goals, finishing with 16 for the year and dishing three assists for a career-best 35 points. Out of Lenexa, Kansas, Watts’ 16 goals are tied for the second-most goals in a single season in the program, while 35 points are tied for sixth. The 2025 SEC Forward of the Year led the conference in points, goals, goals per game and shots. Named All-SEC First Team, Watts earned SEC Player of the Week honors twice and was selected to TopDrawer’s Midseason Top 100 Players.
Three women’s finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 9, 2026, to formally announce this year’s winners.
Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite player. Go to MACHermannnTrophy.org for the women’s semifinal ballot.
