KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 6 ranked Portland Pilots had two players named to the 2025 Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List, with David Ajagbe and Joe Highfield both making the list.
The Hermann Trophy, presented by the Missouri Athletic Club, is considered the top individual honor in college soccer, voted on by the Division I head coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches. 31 players made the midseason list, a list that will be whittled down to 15 by Dec. 9 for the announcement of the semifinalists. Three players will be named finalists before the 2025 winner is announced on Jan. 9, 2026 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo.
Ajagbe makes the list in his first year with the Pilots. Having scored six goals and adding two assists for 14 points, he ranks 24
th nationally in total goals and eighth in game-winning goals. He is second in the WCC in both categories. His six goals through 10 games are the most by any Pilot in their first 10 games since Eddie Sanchez in 2013. TopDrawerSoccer nominated Ajagbe as a Player of the Year candidate as well.
Highfield, meanwhile, has shined at striker for Portland. He has six goals himself with three assists for a team-high 15 points. He is also 24
th nationally in goals and 25
th in total points. 1.50 points per game (combined assists and goals) ranks 20
th in the nation as well. With 13 goals through his first two seasons of play, he has the most goals by a Pilot in their first two seasons since Benji Michel through 2016-17.
This is the first time a midseason watch list has ever been released by United Soccer Coaches. The Pilots have had numerous players earn some form of Hermann Trophy recognition under head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt, having at least one player make the preseason watch list in four of the last eight seasons, with Nick Fernandez making the preseason list last season. Portland had their first semifinalist for the award since 2002 in outside back Kevin Bonilla, who was a semifinalist in 2023. This is the first time Portland has put multiple players on any Hermann Trophy watch list since Benji Michel and Rey Ortiz both made the preseason list in 2018.
It's been a great year for Portland, who sits at 8-0-2 overall and 1-0-1 in WCC play. Their record is the best by wins through 10 games since 2018. They're currently riding their first unbeaten start through 10 matches since 2022. They hold a 20-game unbeaten streak that dates back to last season, their longest such streak since 1988 and the second longest streak in the nation. If they win tonight, they will match that streak that held back in 1988.
Portland has an important matchup tonight, Oct. 10 against the No. 12 San Diego Toreros. The two teams play at 7 p.m. here at Merlo Field. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
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