In a season defined by breakthroughs and program firsts, University of Georgia redshirt junior midfielder Summer Denigan has carved her name into Bulldog history. On Tuesday afternoon, United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club announced that Denigan has been selected as one of 15 semifinalists for the 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy, the highest individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer.
With the recognition, Denigan becomes the first Georgia player ever to reach the semifinal round of the award, which has been presented annually since 1967 to the top male and female players in college soccer. She was previously named to the trophy’s midseason and postseason watch lists—an honor shared by only two other Bulldogs before her: Carrie Patterson (2008) and Croix Bethune (2023).
A Historic Season for the UGA Captain
Few players in the nation elevated their program the way Denigan did in 2024. The Union, Kentucky native delivered one of the most explosive attacking seasons in Georgia history, finishing with:
- 11 goals (3rd most in the SEC)
- 4 match-winners
- 1,688 minutes played
- 23 points (team leader)
- 56 shots | 24 on target
- Started all 21 matches
Her 11-goal campaign made her the first UGA player to hit double digits since Mollie Belisle in 2021, further cementing her place among the top forwards in the SEC.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. When Georgia needed her most, Denigan delivered. Her equalizer against Kentucky kept the Bulldogs alive in the SEC Tournament race. Her decisive finish against No. 12 North Carolina earned her SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. And her consistency helped Georgia remain competitive against one of the deepest schedules in the nation.
She was also ranked No. 19 nationally in the TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Top 100 list — another career first.
A Leader in Every Sense
Denigan’s role extended well beyond the scoresheet. As team captain, she anchored Georgia’s midfield with a blend of physicality, intelligence, and calm under pressure. Her reliability—averaging over 80 minutes per match—gave the Bulldogs a steady presence in transition and attack.
Her semifinal selection reinforces her impact on both sides of the ball. In many ways, she has become the prototype of the modern college midfielder: dynamic, dangerous, and able to command a match.
A Program-Changing Moment for Georgia Soccer
Georgia has sent talented players through Athens for decades—All-SEC selections, NWSL draftees, U.S. youth national team standouts—but the MAC Hermann Trophy spotlight has long eluded the program.
That changed with Denigan.
She is now the Bulldogs’ highest-ever representative in the sport’s most prestigious collegiate award. The nomination underscores the growth of Georgia Soccer under head coach Keidane McAlpine, who continues reshaping the program’s trajectory through high-level recruiting, development, and competitive scheduling.
Her semifinal status also elevates UGA on the national map, especially as the SEC continues to expand its influence in the women’s game ahead of the 2026 conference realignment.
What Comes Next
The MAC Hermann Trophy selection committee will narrow the field to three finalists, to be announced on Wednesday, December 10.
Should Denigan advance, she would attend the MAC Hermann Trophy Banquet on January 9, 2026, in St. Louis—home of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
A finalist appearance would mark yet another milestone for Georgia Soccer and could place Denigan among the elite company of past winners such as Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Morgan Brian, Catarina Macario, and Jaelin Howell.
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Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.