Cooper Flax Named to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Wake Forest males’s soccer senior midfielder Cooper Flax has been named to the 2025 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List, the group introduced Thursday morning.

“It’s an honor to be one of the names on this list but this recognition truly comes from the work of my teammates and the coaching staff,” Flax stated. “My main focus is just to do my small part in helping out a huge program such as Wake Forest to continue our great culture and winning ways.”

The Hermann Trophy is introduced yearly by the Missouri Athletic Club and is the nation’s highest particular person honor recognizing the National Player of the Year, decided by the voting of Division I head coaches who’re members of United Soccer Coaches.

It is known as in honor of the late Robert Hermann, the legendary St. Louis, Mo., businessman and soccer govt who based the National Professional Soccer League, the primary professional soccer league within the United States which grew to become the North American Soccer League. He was inducted within the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.

This marks the fifth preseason recognition for Flax, who enters his senior marketing campaign following a standout 2024 season by which he led Wake Forest in factors (19) and objectives (9). The All-American was the one discipline participant to begin all 24 matches for the Demon Deacons and scored six of his 9 objectives towards ACC opponents. He recorded 4 objectives through the ACC Tournament, together with a brace in a 5-1 win over Virginia, serving to information Wake Forest to its third ACC Championship beneath head coach Bobby Muuss.

Cooper Flax Preseason Honors

• MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List
• TopDrawerSoccer Best XI – First Team
• TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Players – No. 11
• ACC Preseason Player to Watch
• United Soccer Coaches Midfielder to Watch

Flax additionally tallied the game-winning strike in a 2-1 NCAA Tournament victory over Maryland. His 2024 postseason honors included United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-America, First-Team All-South Region, All-ACC Second Team, and ACC All-Tournament Team.

The 2025 Hermann Trophy semifinalists can be introduced on December 9, with three finalists named later within the month. The winner can be revealed on January 9, 2026, on the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo.