Being the lone sophomore named to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America First Team, as Duke University sophomore defender Andrew Wenger recently was, is obviously a big enough honor in itself.

But last week, the Warwick graduate got more mind-blowing news.

On Aug. 11, the Missouri Athletic Club announced that Wenger had been named to the prestigious Hermann Trophy Watch List.

The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top male and female college soccer players.

Wenger is one of only three sophomores named to the 39-player list and one of six defenders who were chosen.

After starting all 21 games for the Blue Devils at center back last season, Wenger was eventually named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Freshman of the Year and was the third freshman in Duke history to be named the ACC's Rookie of the Year.

He was also the first Duke freshman since 1997 to be named to the All-ACC First Team.

Wenger's four goals and three assists last season left him third on the team in scoring with 11 points, and he also helped the Blue Devils notch seven shutouts.

Recipients for the MAC Hermann Trophy — the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer — are chosen by NCAA Division I coaches who are National Soccer Coaches Association of America members.

Voting for the Hermann Trophy will take place in November, when 15 semifinalists will be paired down to three finalists.

The finalists will be invited to a banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 7, 2011, when the Hermann Trophy winner will be announced.

Duke, which was ranked 11th in the NSCAA Preseason College poll, begins its season against Louisville on Sept. 3.