University of Maine women’s soccer forward Abby Kraemer, who was named the first All-American in program history last season, has been named to the United Soccer Coaches’ Watch List for the 2024 Hermann Trophy.
The Hermann Trophy is awarded to the best Division I player in the country and Kraemer was one of 44 players selected for the watch list.
There are 336 Division I teams.
She is the first UMaine player to be named on the list.
The Waterloo, Ontario native led the Black Bears to their first-ever America East Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth a year ago, scoring 13 goals and assisting on four more for 30 points and earning her America East Forward of the Year honors.
She was a second-team All-American.
She led the America East in points, goals, points per game (1.76), goals per game (0.72), game-winning goals (6), shot attempts (68) and shot attempts per game (3.78).
Her six game-winning goals ranked her sixth in the country and her 0.72 goals per game ranked her 13th.
University of Maine football coach Scott Atherley said Kraemer is in elite company on that list. And he said she belongs on the list.
“First of all, look at her numbers, statistically speaking. She’s at the top in so many different categories that it’s hard to argue why she shouldn’t be (on the list),” Atherley said.
The coach also said that their consistency and development from their beginnings to where they are today is impressive.
“She was involved in four of our five goals last week,” Atherley said, referring to Kraemer’s goal and two assists in the season-opening 4-0 win at Le Moyne College on Thursday and her assist in the 1-1 tie at Syracuse University on Sunday.
Atherley said the trip to New York had many positive aspects.
Le Moyne was strong defensively, so UMaine had to play smart and be patient to break through their defense, he said.
“In the Syracuse game, we had a number of good chances and should have won the game. We just didn’t capitalize on the opportunities. Their goalkeeper (Shea Vanderbosch) was one of their best players. She made some incredible saves,” Atherley said.
It was the first time in 12 years that an America East school won or tied a school in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
UMaine attempted 15 shots to Syracuse’s 10, with five on goal to Syracuse’s two. UMaine had a 26-2 advantage in shot attempts and a 12-0 advantage in shots on goal at Le Moyne.
Anna Phillips, center back for the Black Bears of Bolton, England, was named America East Defensive Player of the Week. She played all 180 minutes and anchored a defense that allowed just two shots on goal in the two games.
Phillips joined the team from the University of Oregon, where she started 55 consecutive games and led the Ducks in minutes played the last two seasons.
“She ended up blocking two shots (against Syracuse),” Atherley said.
In the first game, Jordane Pinette, Abbey Thornton of Windham, Kraemer and Lara Kirkby were the goal scorers. In addition to Abby Kraemer, her sister Kayla, Tegan Morrison, Victoria Dungey and Kristina Kelly of Lincolnville also provided assists.
Kirkby scored a goal against Syracuse with an assist from the Kraemer sisters.
Graduate student Jessica Kasacek had one save in the two games, against Syracuse.
UMaine travels to face the University of Rhode Island on Sunday at 1 p.m.
