Trio of Utah natives named to 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list

PROVO — Three college soccer players from the state of Utah were named to the most prestigious watch list in the sport Wednesday by the Missouri Athletic Club.

BYU’s Lucy Kesler and Ellie Walbruch, and North Carolina defender Izzi Stratton, received preseason recognition on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, the award given annually to the Division I national player of the year in men’s and women’s soccer by the Missouri Athletic Club and presented each January in St. Louis.

Considered the nation’s highest honor and the “Heisman Trophy of collegiate soccer,” the award is named in honor of the late Robert Hermann, the St. Louis businessman and soccer executive who helped launch the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) as the first professional soccer league in the United States. Hermann was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.

A senior from Highland, Walbruch is named to the preseason watch list for the second year in a row. The second-year captain led BYU in goals and shots last year, scoring in four multi-goal games including her first collegiate hat trick en route to All-Big 12 first-team honors and second-team All-America status by the United Soccer Coaches.

Kesler, Walbruch’s cousin who plays defensive midfield for the Cougars, also earned All-Big 12 Tournament honors and a spot on the All-Midwest Region first team alongside her cousin. The American Fork High grad was named a third-team All-American following her sophomore season.

🌟𝐌𝐀𝐂 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓🌟 pic.twitter.com/Ei6ycC006L

— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) August 26, 2026

The 15th-ranked Cougars (2-1) continue nonconference play Thursday against Minnesota, kicking off against a fourth-straight Big Ten foe at 7 p.m. MT at South Field in Provo.

Stratton, who grew up in Alpine and attended American Heritage School, transferred to North Carolina ahead of her senior season. The 6-foot center back was named second-team All-Big 12, second-team All-Midwest, and Big 12 all-tournament selection a year after anchoring BYU’s back line in a team-high 1,900 minutes and Big 12 defensive player of the week honors.

She started 66 of her 68 appearances at BYU prior to transferring to Chapel Hill, including earning a spot on the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team as a sophomore in 2024.

The Tar Heels continue their 3-1 start to the season Friday with an exhibition match in Dublin, Ireland against Shelbourne FC.

The MAC Hermann Trophy watch list will be trimmed 15 players ahead of a semifinal round Dec. 4, with three finalists being named following a vote of NCAA Division I head coaches.

The 2026 recipient will be announced Jan. 8 in a ceremony at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis.