Dec. 9, 2005

CARY, N.C. - Indiana senior midfielder Brian Plotkin was announced as one of three finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Hermann Trophy, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced on Dec. 9. Plotkin along with senior forward Jason Garey of Maryland and senior forward Jeff Rowland of New Mexico were named as finalists for the national player of the year award. The trio will be a part of the announcement on Jan. 6, 2006 in St. Louis.

"Brian is one of my favorite Hoosier players of all-time to watch," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "He is very deserving of this recognition, and I am happy to see him be named a finalist. Brian has been an invaluable part of our program over the last four years. He helped take Indiana soccer to the next level."

Plotkin enjoyed an exceptional career at Indiana, including back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2003 and 2004. During his four-year Hoosier career, Indiana amassed an overall record of 64-13-14. He leaves Indiana as one of the top players to wear the cream and crimson. Plotkin finished his career ranked among the IU all-time top 25 in three categories; tied for ninth in assists with 34, eighth in career shots with 262 and 23rd in career points with 76.

"It is a great honor to be recognized as a finalist for the National Player of Year," Plotkin said. "There are a lot of very deserving players that could have been named finalists, but I am thankful to be one of those three."

As a senior, the Lisle, Ill., native was a first team NSCAA/adidas All-Americna. He was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year and was the conference's only unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection. He topped the Big Ten in points (26) and game-winning goals (4), while ranking second in assists (10) and fourth in goals (8). On three occasions, Plotkin earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.

He capped his Hoosier career by scoring the game-winning goal on Senior Night (Nov. 3) against then-No. 1 Akron. Plotkin knocked in a cross from senior Jordan Chirico, inciting a celebration from the sixth-largest crowd of 4,884 in attendance. For his efforts, the senior captain was named Soccer America National Player of the Year as well as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

Last season, Danny O'Rourke became the first Hoosier to win the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy. The M.A.C. Award and Hermann Trophy were merged into one award prior to the 2002 season. Before that, the honors were both given out as national player of the year awards. The merge of the two honors completed a process of combining the three top honors in collegiate soccer. In 1999, the M.A.C. and NSCAA came together to create a single award to recognize the top Division I player.

On five occasions, a Hoosier won the Hermann Trophy and on three occasions, a Hoosier won the M.A.C. Player of the Year Award. The list of Hermann Trophy winners includes: Angelo DiBernardo (1978), Armando Betancourt (1981), Ken Snow (1988, 1990) and Brian Maisonneuve (1994). The list of M.A.C. Award winners includes Snow (1988, 1990) and Todd Yeagley (1994). O'Rourke became the first to win the merged honor.

Plotkin and teammates Jacob Peterson and Jed Zayner were selected as three of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy on Nov. 16. The trio was also selected to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List in the preseason. The list included 25 players, who were regarded as the top players in the nation entering the 2005 campaign.

The winner will be determined in voting by NSCAA Division I member coaches. The three men's and three women's finalists are invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, for the announcement of the winner at a press conference, which will be telecast live by ESPNews. Both winners will be presented the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy at a banquet later that evening.