Dec. 15, 2007

• Courtesy of HokieSports.com

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Junior forward Patrick Nyarko is a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the Missouri Athletic Club announced recently.

Nyarko is a three-time first-team All-ACC selection. In the NCAA quarterfinal match against No. 1 UConn, he scored the only goal of the game to lead the Hokies to their first College Cup appearance in school history. He also tallied the game-winning goal in Tech's 1-0 third round win over Old Dominion.

Nyarko finished this season with seven goals and 10 assists, while posting three-point games twice this season, at Tulsa and against Maryland. Nyarko is the first finalist for the award in school history.

Connecticut's O'Brian White and Notre Dame's Joseph Lapira are the other finalists. The winner of the 2007 Hermann Trophy will be announced during a banquet in St. Louis, Mo., on Jan. 11. The announcement will be carried live on ESPNews at 7 p.m. EST.

The Kumasi, Ghana native was also one of four ACC players selected to the 2007 NSCAA/adidas All-America First Team.

In addition, Nyarko was named the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association Men's Soccer University Division Player of the Year.

Head coach Oliver Weiss joined Nyarko in the VaSID honors, as the Coach of the Year in voting conducted among members. Weiss led the Hokies to an appearance in the NCAA College Cup with a 14-3-5 overall record, and owns a career record of 68-39-16 after guiding the Hokies to their first-ever NCAA College Cup.

Nyarko was joined on the VaSID first team by senior midfielder Ben Nason, while forward Robert Edmans and freshman defender James Shupp earned second-team honors.