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FAASSE WINS HERMANN TROPHY

Published Jan 3, 2025

P R E S S R E L E A S E

KATE FAASSE WINS MAC HERMANN TROPHY
Joins exclusive list of WPSL alumnae winners

SAINT LOUIS (1/3/2025) — Kate Faasse, the NCAA Division I’s top goal scorer in 2024, was named winner of the 2024 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy.

Faasse, a junior on the 2024 NCAA College Cup Champions University of North Carolina, received college soccer’s most prestigious individual award at the awards ceremony at the Missouri Athletic Club in Saint Louis on Friday.

“I want to thank my family for all their unwavering support and taking every step with me,” Faasse said after receiving the award. “I want to thank my unbelievable coaching staff, every single one of them. They have been there and helped me be the individual I am today through my entire time at UNC.”

“The biggest blessing,” Faasse continued, “is my teammates. They instilled a different type of confidence in me to be the person and player I am today. This award is recognition for them and the team they were this season, as well.”

2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Winners: Michael Adedokun, Ohio State University; Kate Faasse, University of North Carolina; 2024 Photo Missouri Athletic Club, St. Louis Jan. 3, 2024

Faasse played the 2024 WPSL season with SC del Sol in her hometown of Phoenix, Ariz., helping the club to its second consecutive Desert Conference title.

“Kate Faasse is an exceptional athlete and an even more remarkable individual. As a youth player, Kate represented SC del Sol, committing to UNC while also making a significant impact with the U.S. Youth National Teams,” Mat Evans, SC del Sol WPSL head coach, said.

“This season, she was a key contributor to SC del Sol’s undefeated WPSL campaign, showcasing her dedication and relentless work ethic," Evans continued. “Her commitment during the off-season and outstanding performances earned her this prestigious award—a recognition she fully deserves after an incredible college season.”

Faasse joins WPSL alumnae Catarina Marcario (San Diego SeaLions, 2017) and Jaelin Howell (Motor City FC, 2018). Both Marcario and Howell were double MAC Hermann Trophy winners: Marcario earned women’s collegiate soccer’s highest individual prize in 2018 and 2019 playing for Stanford, and Howell in 2020 and 2021 playing for Florida State.

Faasse finished the Tar Heels’ championship season leading all Division I goal scorers with 20 goals. She also provided four assists in the 27 matches in which she appeared—starting in all 27—this season.

It took Faasse the first five games of the 2024 season to match the four collegiate goals she tallied in her first two seasons at Chapel Hill, finishing the regular season with 12 goals as the Tar Heels’ finished fourth (7-0-3)[W-D-L] in Athletic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season play.

Faasse kicked off the ACC tournament with a brace in the Tar Heels’ 2-0 win over Virginia Tech, following up with a brace in the tournament championship match in which the Tar Heels fell to Florida State 3-2.

She continued her goal-scoring streak with another brace in the Tar Heels’ 8-0 drubbing of USC Upstate in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, followed with single goals in the Tar Heels’ 2-1 win over Penn State in the quarter finals and 3-0 semifinal win over archrival Duke to send North Carolina to its record 30th national championship match versus Wake Forest, winning its record 23rd national championship with a 1-0 in in the championship.

Maggie Graham (Duke University) and Caiya Hanks (Wake Forest) were the other 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy finalists. Graham, a graduate student, scored 14 goals and added five assists for the Blue Devils. Hanks finished Wake Forest’s first-ever run to the College Cup final with 11 goals and 12 assists on the season.