KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bowling Green’s Kyle Cusimano and Missouri State’s Jesus Barea were named semifinalists for the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy, as announced by United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) on Wednesday. A composite list of 15 semifinalists was generated following a vote done by NCAA Division I men’s soccer coaches.
 
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967.

Cusimano was named the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and also earned All-MVC First Team honors. The defender had six points on two goals and two assists. Cusimano helped the Falcons keep six clean sheets during the 2024 season. Cusimano played in 79 career matches, starting 78, in his stellar Falcon career. He is tied for 11th in school history in appearances and ranks seventh in career starts. And, he had 33 career points, with 10 goals and 13 assists.
 
Barea was named the 2024 Missouri Valley Conference Player to become the first Bear to win the award twice (2022). He was also named the league's Forward of the Year for the first time in his career. The senior is tied for fourth in Division I in goals (15), which is tied for the second-most in Missouri State program history. His 34 points accumulated across his 15 goals and four assists in 2024 were tied for the third-most in a Bears season. The nomination marks the fourth time a Missouri State Bear has been named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. Matthew Bentley was nominated in 2019, and Kyle Hiebert was named a semifinalist in consecutive seasons (2020-21, 2021).
 
Three men’s finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, Dec. 18, after voting by NCAA Division I coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches. The 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner will then be announced at a press conference at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2025, followed by a dinner to celebrate all of the 2024 finalists.
 
Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite player at machermanntrophy.com.