KANSAS CITY, Mo. (United Soccer Coaches/SMU) – SMU Men's Soccer senior Bailey Sparks has been named MAC 2024 Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, as announced by the United Soccer Coaches on Wednesday.
 
Sparks is one of 15 players included on the list, based on voting by NCAA Division I Men's soccer coaches.
 
The Plano native led the Mustangs with 19 goal contributions this season. He scored nine goals and made 10 assists throughout the season.
 
In the regular season, Sparks had 12 goal involvements with six goals and six assists—earning him the All-ACC First Team honors.

Joining Sparks on the list from the ACC are Ulfur Bjornsson from Duke, Joran Gerbet from Clemson, Wessel Speel from Duke and Casper Svendby from Pitt. Full list of semifinalists is linked here: MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalists.
 
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 2024 finalists.
 
Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite player. Go to machermanntrophy.com for the men's semifinal ballot.
 
The Hermann Trophy is presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club. It is the nation's highest individual honor, recognizing the National Player of the Year as determined by voting of Division I head coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches.
 
Two former Mustangs, Mads Westergren and Jelldrik Dallmann, were named Hermann Trophy semifinalists last year.
 
About the Hermann Trophy
In 1967, Robert Hermann, the president of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the NPSL's successor, the North American Soccer League, established a trophy to annually recognize the top men's collegiate soccer player. The trophy, named the Hermann Trophy, has been awarded each year since 1967. In 1988, a second Hermann Trophy was inaugurated to recognize the top women's collegiate player of the year.
 
About the Missouri Athletic Club
Located in St. Louis, Mo., the Missouri Athletic Club has been presenting college soccer's player of the year awards since 1986. The MAC was established in 1903 as an athletic, dining and social club. It has a "Platinum Club of America" status, which is awarded to the top private clubs in the country. To learn more about the Missouri Athletic Club, go to mac-stl.org.