KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United Soccer Coaches announced its initial list of Men’s Division I soccer players named to the 2022 Hermann Trophy Watch List, the organization released Thursday morning. Added to the list for the Bears was a senior midfielder Karim Diaoone of the 38 members of the preseason list.
Presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club, the Hermann Trophy is the nation’s highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year. The recipient of the award is determined by votes from Division I coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches.
“Karim has been a great asset to our program on the field and off. He brings energy to everything the team does and always provides the team with a boost,” Head coach Frank Kohlenstein said. “He continues to be a positive force on this team and we’re going to rely on him a lot to take this program where we think it can go.”
Diao is one of two players from the ASUN to make the list, along with Lipscomb’s Noah Gulden. The Bordeaux, France native looks to continue the momentum he had last season, where he was named First Team All-ASUN and United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team.
Last year, Diao helped lead Central Arkansas to a share of the ASUN regular season title, as the Bears captured their third regular season conference title in four years. He was second on the Bears in scoring, logging six goals and an assist, totaling 13 points. His six scores were tied for sixth in the ASUN, and his point total was tied for ninth.
With three exhibition matches on the books, Diao and the Bears turn to the regular season, which starts on Friday. Playing three matches on the road to start the season, Central Arkansas will cross time zones to play Portland on Friday before returning to face No. 2 Washington on Monday.