UVA soccer’s Eric Bird (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va.) has been named to the 2014 Missouri Athletic Club hermann trophy Men’s Watch List, announced Wednesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Bird is one of 32 selections to the men’s watch list.The NSCAA also announced its preseason team rankings Wednesday, tabbing Virginia No. 3 in its initial rankings for the 2014 season. It marks the Cavaliers’ highest preseason ranking since starting the 2010 season at No. 2.
Bird was named a third-Team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Soccer America last season. He was the first Cavalier to earn a spot on the NSCAA All-America Team since Tony Tchani claimed first-team honors in 2009.
Also named second-team All-ACC in 2013, Bird led Virginia with seven goals and 19 points while helping the Cavaliers to an appearance in the NCAA College Cup. He tied for the team lead with five assists.
The team captain played in all 24 games, starting the final 23 matches at the attacking midfielder position. He ranked eighth in the ACC in goals and points and 10th in assists.
Bird also was named to the 2013 ACC All-Tournament Team. He recorded a goal and two assists in the NCAA tournament, with assists on the Cavaliers’ game-winning goals against St. John’s and Marquette.
The NSCAA will announce 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy, selected by voting from coaches, in November. The three finalists for the award, announced in December, will travel to St. Louis in January for the award presentation at the Missouri Athletic Club.
The Cavaliers begin training for the 2014 season on Aug. 13, with their exhibition opener slated for Aug. 16 against Rutgers. UVa begins the 2014 regular season on Aug. 29 when it plays host to No. 25 Old Dominion in an 8 p.m. match.
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Chris Graham
