KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Vermont men's soccer forward Yaniv Bazini was one of 16 NCAA Division I men's soccer players named to the 2024 Hermann Trophy Watch List. The United Soccer Coaches announced the list on Thursday, the first day of the regular season.
 
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The Hermann Trophy, presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club, is the nation's highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year. Voting is conducted by Division I head coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches.
 
Bazini is one of two America East student-athletes on the list, joined by Marc Pitarch Bayot of Bryant.
 
He is the first Catamount to crack the Hermann Trophy Watch List since 2022 when Alex Nagy and Noah Egan were both featured. Nagy went on to become a semifinalist and was later named a First Team All-American.
 
A Beit Hanan, Israel native, Bazini has collected multiple honors before the start of the 2024 campaign. He was named to the NCAA Division I Players to Watch List by United Soccer Coaches. Bazini was also one of six Catamounts named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team. Vermont was tabbed as the preseason favorites in the conference.
 
Bazini returns for his final season with the Catamounts after earning All-Conference First Team and United Soccer Coaches' All-Northeast First Team honors in 2023. The forward recorded team-highs in goals (11), points (26), shots (65) and shots on goal (32). He scored a league-best four game-winning goals. He led Vermont Green FC with 12 goals this past summer, which ranked fifth in USL2.
 
Bazini and No. 14 Vermont begin their 2024 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 22 against No. 12 Western Michigan. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET at WMU Soccer Complex and will broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's soccer program, follow @UVMmsoccer on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.

New England Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont soccer