In the least surprising news of the year, junior Catarina Macario was awarded the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy as the top female collegiate soccer player for the second consecutive season. Primarily out of the midfield, Macario led the NCAA in goals (32), assists (23) and points (87).
Macario was just the fifth woman to win the prestigious award twice in a row. Two of the others to do it, Christine Sinclair and Mia Hamm, are also the only two in NCAA history to record more points than Macario in a season.
From the first game of the season, in which she submitted an early candidate for goal of the year as part of a two-goal, game-winning performance, Macario led Stanford to its second championship during her three-year tenure and its third overall. The Cardinal set a program record with 102 goals.
“I feel incredibly blessed by this opportunity to be a part of such an amazing group of women at Stanford,” Macario said. “Thank you to my family, friends, teammates and coaches; your unconditional support is my biggest inspiration and it is a perfect example of why I love the beautiful game.”
Macario set single-season program records for goals, assists and points, passing former Cardinal legends such as Kelly O’Hara ’10 and Christen Press ’11. O’Hara, a Hermann trophy winner in her senior campaign and a two-time World Cup champion, was on hand as the special guest for the ceremony. A Stanford player has now won the award in six of the past 11 seasons from when O’Hara first won it.
“I would like to congratulate Catarina on yet another thoroughly-deserved recognition,” said Stanford head coach Paul Ratcliffe. “She is not only one of the best players I have had the privilege of coaching but is also a wonderful human being who deeply cares for everyone around her.”
The São Luis-born Macario moved to San Diego at age 12, where she met now-sophomore Bianca Caetano-Ferrara on the San Diego Surf. It was Caetano-Ferrara’s assist for Macario’s fourth goal of the game in the postseason’s first-round onslaught that secured the single-season program record.
In the tournament semifinal, Macario and Stanford met UCLA and their Hermann trophy finalist midfielder Jessie Fleming. After dispensing of the Bruins, Stanford would have met the other finalist Emily Fox of North Carolina had she not been injured.
“I would also like to thank the Missouri Athletic Club for their continued support of women’s soccer and congratulate my fellow finalists Jessie and Emily on their fantastic seasons,” Macario said.
Macario twice netted a hat trick and scored 12 game-winning goals over the course of the season. Despite being held without a goal in Avaya Stadium at the College Cup, Macario was crucial to the tournament success and was the top rated player in the final.
Macario now has an opportunity in her senior campaign to become the first player to win the award in three consecutive seasons.
Contact Daniel Martinez-Krams at danielmk ‘at’ stanford.edu.