KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Junior defender Matt Nocita (Porter Ranch, Calif.) was named to the Men's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the Missouri Athletic Club and United Soccer Coaches announced on Thursday afternoon. Nocita becomes the first player for Navy to be selected to the MAC Hermann Watch List since Jamie Dubyoski prior to the 2015 season.
 
Since joining Navy in 2018, Nocita has started each of the Midshipmen's 35 matches and has played 3,203 minutes out of 3,215. The junior was named the Patriot League Defender of the Year in 2019 while also being selected to the United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Atlantic Region. In 2018, Nocita earned Third Team All-Patriot League honors as a freshman.
 
During the 2019 season, Nocita helped the Midshipmen rank fourth nationally in shutout percentage (.588) and goals-against average (0.57) while ranking eighth in save percentage (.818).
 
Nocita has chipped in on the offensive end as well, recording four goals – two game-winning goals – and two assists in his career. The native of Porter Ranch, Calif., scored Navy's first goal of the current season as he notched the game-tying goal in the Midshipmen's 2-1 win over North Carolina State this past October.
 
The MAC Hermann Trophy, which was established in 1967, is awarded to the top men's and women's collegiate soccer player in the country. The trophy was named after Robert Hermann, who was the president of the National Professional Soccer League and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the North American Soccer League. The Missouri Athletic Club presents the trophy following each season.
 
This year's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List includes 34 players from across the country. Three players from the Patriot League were represented on the list as Lehigh's Josh Luchini and Loyola's Chase Vosvick join Nocita.
 
Navy is set to return to action this spring with the Patriot League regular-season schedule set to begin on Saturday, Feb. 27.