ESPNW announced Wednesday evening Virginia senior center back Emily Sonnett won the 2015 Soccer Player of the Year award. Sonnett anchors a Cavalier defense that has allowed an average of only .58 goals per game and amassed 12 shutouts through 19 matches.
The Marietta, Ga. native continues to reap rewards as both a leader and a star for No. 3 Virginia (16-1-2, 9-1-0 ACC). Sonnett earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors Nov. 5, less than two weeks after she started in her first appearance with the United States Women’s National Team.
Sonnett is also in the running for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is a premier individual award in collegiate soccer. She and 27 of the nation’s best players — including Virginia senior forward Makenzy Doniak — were included on the preseason watch list. Semifinalists will be announced in early December.
Attackers and midfielders usually receive the Hermann Trophy, but Sonnett is an exceptional case. The co-captain competes with more fire inside of her than other players in the nation. She lives for matchups against elite scorers and exerts everything until the job is done.
Since rejoining her teammates Oct. 26, Sonnett has guided the Cavaliers to a 3-1 record and a No. 1 seed entering the NCAA Tournament. The single loss via a penalty shootout to overall-No. 1 Florida State last week motivates the co-captain and the rest of her crew.
Sonnett will strive to bring the 2015 College Cup trophy back to Charlottesville, and the journey begins Friday night at Klöckner Stadium, as Virginia takes on Howard (13-7-2, 7-3-0 SWAC) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
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