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Maryland men’s soccer sophomore midfielder Ben Bender was named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the program announced earlier on Tuesday. The trophy is the highest individual award in Division I men’s soccer and is voted on by the nation’s coaches each season.
Bender put together a magical 2021 campaign, leading the Terrapins with seven goals and five assists. He was named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team. Bender scored a goal in five consecutive games, which is the longest streak for a Maryland player since 2005. He was also named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice this season.
These numbers should come as no surprise to Maryland men’s soccer fans, who saw Bender burst onto the scene and earn All-Big Ten Second Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors just a season ago.
Bender is the first Terrapin to be named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist since Alex Crognale and Gordon Wild in 2016. The last player from Maryland to win the award was Patrick Mullins in 2012 and 2013, and the only other Terp to do so was Jason Garey in 2005.
The three finalists for the trophy will be announced on Dec. 15. The winner of the award will be named at the MAC Hermann Trophy banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Missouri on Jan. 7, 2022.
In other news
Maryland football’s tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo announced that he will enter the 2022 NFL Draft and the Pinstripe Bowl game against Virginia Tech will be his last in a Maryland uniform.
Thank you for everything Terp Family!!! pic.twitter.com/xCwk63A1Sl
— Chigoziem Okonkwo (@ChigTweets) December 7, 2021
Former Maryland and Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair watched the Atlanta Hawks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves and caught the attention of fellow Terrapin Kevin Huerter, who had ten points and five rebounds for Atlanta.
Terp Family is strong @KevinHuerter @SaintC17 pic.twitter.com/Jeiu3IpfbH
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) December 7, 2021
No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball shared highlights from Sunday’s 73-59 win at Rutgers.
▶️ Terp Tapes | Rutgers
— Maryland Women’s Basketball (@TerpsWBB) December 7, 2021
Getting the Big Ten season started right #FTT x #TheMI22ION pic.twitter.com/i65ouztk4M
1️⃣4️⃣ straight wins against Big Ten teams #FTT x #TheMI22ION pic.twitter.com/I2cui17Yb2
— Maryland Women’s Basketball (@TerpsWBB) December 7, 2021
Maryland wrestling had three wrestlers ranked this week. Kyle Cochran ranked 24th at 184 pounds and Jaron Smith was an honorable mention at 197 pounds in FloWrestling’s rankings. Zach Schrader moved up a spot to 32nd in InterMat’s heavyweight rankings.
Two Terps in the @FloWrestling rankings!
— Maryland Wrestling (@TerpsWrestling) December 7, 2021
Kyle Cochran is 24th at 184-pounds with Jaron Smith earning an Honorable Mention at 197-pounds.#TurtlePower pic.twitter.com/OxOYlQALaI
Schrader moves up to 3️⃣2️⃣ in this week’s Intermat rankings!#TurtlePower pic.twitter.com/Eeked1Nn5Y
— Maryland Wrestling (@TerpsWrestling) December 7, 2021
The Maryland women’s lacrosse 2022 schedule is set to be released Wednesday.
Schedule Release
— Maryland Women's Lacrosse (@MarylandWLax) December 7, 2021
Tomorrow pic.twitter.com/yL2cMyUXHJ