Aug. 11, 2009

LOS ANGELES - Junior forward Rafael Baca made history on Tuesday, becoming the first Loyola Marymount men's soccer player to be included on the Hermann Trophy Watch List. The Hermann Trophy, awarded by the Missouri Athletic Club, is awarded annually to the nation's top player and is the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer. Baca is one of 38 players from across the nation to be included on the 2009 list and joins Conor Chinn of San Francisco as the only representatives from the West Coast Conference.

Baca, from Lawndale, Calif., has been an All-WCC selection in each of his first two seasons at LMU, earning a place on the Second Team and All-Freshman Team in 2007 and First Team honors in 2008. He was also named Third Team NSCAA/adidas All-West Region last year after leading the Lions with five goals and 11 points. In two years at LMU, he had seven goals, six assists, and 20 points in 39 games. Baca will once again serve as team captain 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 invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., for a news conference on Jan. 8, 2010, where the winner will be announced, with a presentation banquet following. To view the entire 2009 Hermann Trophy Watch List, please click here.

LMU opens up its 2009 campaign on September 1 at San Diego State.