Akron Athletics

EMIL JAASKELAINEN 2024 | 2024 MAC HERMANN TROPHY FINALIST AWARD RELEASE
 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Akron men's soccer redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England), the nation's leading scorer, has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy, the United Soccer Coaches in partnership with the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) announced on Wednesday. The three finalists for NCAA Division I National Player of the Year award were determined on voting by the Division I men's coaches.
 
The three finalists are Jaaskelainen, Denver senior midfielder Sam Bassett (Littleton, Colo.) and Ohio State senior midfielder Michael Odedokun (Eruwa, Nigeria).
 
A First-Team All-America honoree this season for the second time, Jaaskelainen becomes the fourth MAC Hermann Trophy finalist in Akron men's soccer program history joining Steve Zakuani (2008), Teal Bunbury (2009) and Darlington Nagbe (2010). Both Bunbury and Nagbe were selected as winners of the MAC Hermann Trophy award following the Zips' historic runs to the title games of the 2009 and 2010 College Cups.
 
The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967. Most recently, Ousmane Sylla (Clemson) and Onyi Echegini (Florida State) received the award for outstanding intercollegiate performances last year.
 
The 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner will then be announced at a press conference at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Jan. 3, 2025, followed by a dinner to celebrate all of the 2024 finalists.
 
Jaaskelainen, who garnered First-Team All-Region honors this season for the second time, started all 21 games for Akron in 2024 en route to recording an NCAA-best 23 goals and 54 points, while also leading the nation in game-winning goals (6), goals per game (1.10) and points per tilt (2.57). He also ranks fourth in the nation in shots (4.38) and shot on goal (2.14) per match and 36th in total assists (8), while finishing the campaign posting the second-highest single-season goal total in program history en route to be a unanimous choice as BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-BIG EAST selection.
 
Jaaskelainen ranked first in the BIG EAST in goals (1.10), points (2.57), shots (4.38), shots on goal (2.14) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (23), shots (92), shots on goal (45), points (54) and game-winning goals (6) and rating fourth in assists (8). In league-only affairs, he led the BIG EAST in total goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), as well as goals (1.50), points (3.50), shots (4.25), shots on goal (2.25) and game-winners (0.50) per contest, while rating third in total assists (4) and fifth in assists per tilt (0.50).
 
In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, Jaaskelainen recorded 12 of his NCAA-leading 23 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), while ranking second in assists (4). He delivered a hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12), while posting league braces versus Marquette (Oct. 26), Creighton (Oct. 23), DePaul (Oct. 19) and Butler (Sept. 20). Overall, he recorded nine multi-goal affairs on the season.

Jaaskelainen is first in D1 among active leaders in points (154) and goals (66), second in points per game (1.83) and in goals per tilt (0.79), 13th in assists (22), 22nd in assists per contest (0.26) and 25th in games played (84). Across all divisions, he is rated third in career goals (66) and points (154), 16th in points per contest (1.83) and 18th in goals per tilt (0.79).
 
2024 Men's MAC Hermann Trophy Finalists

Name	Class	Pos	School	Hometown
Michael Adedokun	Sr.	MF	Ohio State	Eurwa, Nigeria
Sam Bassett	Sr.	MF	Denver	Littleton, Colo.
Emil Jaaskelainen	Sr. (R)	F	Akron	Bolton, England