Jan. 6, 2006
Garey Wins Terps' First MAC Hermann Trophy
Maryland's Jason Garey capped off his spectacular career with college soccer's top individual award, the Missouri Athletic Club (M.A.C.) Hermann Trophy in 2005. Garey, who helped the Terrapins to their first national championship in 37 years, was the first University of Maryland player to win the award.
Garey earned the nod over finalists Indiana's Brian Plotkin and New Mexico's Jeff Rowland. He was presented the crystal trophy at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Garey added the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy to a litany of other individual awards earned in 2005, including ACC Offensive Player of the Year, consensus All-America honors, Soccer America and Sports Illustrated On Campus Player of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and NSCAA Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Garey retired from professional soccer last week after a successful career with the MLS' Columbus Crew (2006-10) and Houston Dynamo (2011) and the USL's Carolina RailHawks (2012).
Garey reflects on winning the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy:
"Sasho gave me a chance. He wanted me to come in as a walk-on and he gave me a shot even with me being from Louisiana, not having a big resume and not being on the regional or national team. He gave me an opportunity and without him taking that chance on me, I wouldn't have won the Hermann Trophy and wouldn't have been able to play pro soccer. It meant everything to my soccer career. He helped me grow as a person, as a man, as a leader and certainly as a soccer player. He's a special coach and a special human being.
"The Hermann trophy was just icing on the cake to an unbelievable career that I couldn't have even imagined my senior year in high school.
"It was an individual honor but really anyone who watched our games would tell you I had the easiest job of anyone. To put the ball in the goal after getting it from all these great players like Robbie Rogers and Maurice Edu. They set the game up for me."
To commemorate Sasho Cirovski's 20th season as head coach at Maryland, UMTerps.com is celebrating his decorated career with a series titled "20 Winning Moments". Have a moment you think deserves to be on the list? Tweet us at @MarylandMSoccer with the hashtag #20WinningMoments.
