ST. LOUIS, Missouri (August 19, 2024) – The Hermann Trophy, presented by the Missouri Athletic Club, was awarded to a fifth-year graduate student at the University of North Alabama. Alice Bussey as one of the 44 finalists for this week’s watch list.

This list is the highest individual honor in the country and is awarded to the National Player of the Year by United Soccer Coaches, Division I head coaches. Bussey is one of two players competing for an Alabama team, one of ten players from the mid-majors and one of two from the Atlantic Sun Conference. Bussey is the only representative of England and represents seven international players.

“Alice’s hard work last season has put her on the watch list for this year,” said head coach Chris Walker. “It’s a fantastic accomplishment to be recognized alongside some of the other great players in NCAA DI soccer. It’s something she can be very proud of and it will definitely encourage her to continue to work even harder.”

The award honors the late Robert Hermann, a businessman, soccer executive and 2012 U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame inductee from St. Louis, Missouri, who founded the National Professional Soccer League, the first professional soccer league in the United States, from which the North American Soccer League evolved.

The 2024 inductee list will consist of the returning All-Americans and First Team All-Region players from 2023. The 2024 Hermann Trophy semifinalists will be selected on December 4 at the conclusion of the Division I All-American balloting, where 15 players will be selected. The Mac Hermann Trophy winner will be announced on January 3, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Last season, the Hythe, England, native was named to the All-Conference first team and Academic All-ASUN, and earned national honors as a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American and First Team All-South Region player.

This strong season earned Bussey the great honor of being named captain of the Lions team for her entire season. Bussey started all 22 games for UNA and logged 1,684 minutes, recording seven goals and three assists. She took 60 shots and 28 shots on goal, putting pressure on opposing goalies all season long.

The season continues on Thursday, August 22nd in Alabama. The game begins at 7 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

For more information about North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com. Follow UNA Athletics on Facebook. Þjórsárdalur and Instagram.