August 21, 2000; WESTPORT, Conn.- Penn State soccer players Ricardo Villar (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Christie Welsh (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) have been named among the 15 male and 15 female finalists for the 2000 Hermann Trophy, the National Soccer Hall of Fame announced on Monday.

The Hermann, college soccer's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, honors the outstanding male and female collegiate players in the United States.

Villar, a senior midfielder, earned All-America accolades last season while leading the Nittany Lions in scoring with 35 points. He was also named Soccer America's Men's Collegiate MVP and first-team all-Big Ten. Villar and the No. 6 Penn State men's team host St. Francis in exhibition action on Saturday, August 26 at 7 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.

Welsh, a sophomore forward, was named Soccer Buzz's National Freshman-of-the-Year last fall as well as NSCAA first-team All-American. PSU's leading scorer rewrote eight scoring records during her first season for the blue and white. Welsh and the No. 4 Nittany Lion women open the season at home on Sunday, August 27 at 1 p.m. with George Mason.

Collegiate coaches and select media members will vote for the Hermann winners, which will be announced on Saturday, Dec. 9 in Charlotte, N.C., in conjunction with the 2000 Men's College Cup.

The Hermann Trophy is named after Robert R. Hermann, founding Chairman of the North American Soccer League. The first Hermann was presented in 1967.

2000 HERMANN TROPHY FINALISTS