Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: Georgia soccer junior Alexa Newfield has been named to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List

Georgia University Bulldogs ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia soccer junior Alexa Newfield has been named to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List, becoming one of 38 women in the running to receive what is widely regarded as the Heisman Trophy of collegiate soccer. The sport’s most prestigious award is presented annually to one male and one female during a banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. The lists will be narrowed down to 15 semifinalists on Nov. 29 by National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) members from Division I programs. Member coaches as well as fans will then vote for their top three choices, and the finalists will be announced Dec. 6. The banquet and awards presentation will take place on Fri., Jan. 11. Newfield is a returning All-SEC and NSCAA All-South Region first team selection, back from a 2011 season in which she broke the Georgia school record for shots (102) and points (40) in a single season. She enters 2012 ranked second in career shots with 189, as well as fourth all-time in points (60), and fifth in goals (24). She led the Bulldogs in both goals (16) and assists (eight) last season as a sophomore. Already this offseason the Atlanta native has been named to the 2012 SEC Watch List, to the All White Kit “short list” for player of the year at the forward position, and to the College Sports Madness unofficial SEC Preseason All-Conference first team. The Missouri Athletic Club has been presenting soccer’s player of the year awards since 1986. UGA has never had a Hermann Trophy winner in 17 seasons of women’s soccer, while the only other player ever named to the Watch List was Carrie Patterson in 2008. Newfield and the Bulldogs will open the 2012 season this Friday night, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., welcoming UNC Greensboro to the UGA Soccer Stadium. * From UGA Sports Information