Kentucky Men's Soccer's Casper Mols, Finn Ballard McBride make NPOY Watch List

Shortly before No. 3 Kentucky Men’s Soccer began its 2023 campaign on Thursday, a pair of Wildcats were recognized as two of the best players in the country.

Sophomore Casper Mols and graduate transfer Finn Ballard McBride were tabbed to the 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Presented every year by the Missouri Athletic Club, the Hermann Trophy is meant to recognize the National Player of the Year as voted on by Division I coaches.

This year’s Watch List consists of 37 NCAA Men’s Division I college soccer players. Mols, who was named the Sun Belt Conference Goalkeeper of the Year as a freshman, is one of just eight players who has previously earned All-American status. He is also one of just five sophomores to make this year’s watch list. Meanwhile, Ballard McBride is a graduate transfer from UC Santa Barbara who was named the Big West Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.

Casper Mols and Finn Ballard McBride have been named to the 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List! 😼👀

📰: https://t.co/rRU6s4UXDP#WeAreUK | #GBED pic.twitter.com/fMM3jqWqLu

— Kentucky Men’s Soccer (@UKMensSoccer) August 24, 2023

In Kentucky’s 2023 season debut on Thursday, the Wildcats shut out Florida Gulf Coast with a 3-0 victory in Lexington. It was the first clean sheet of the young season for Mols, who recorded 11 shutouts as UK’s goalie a year ago. He was tabbed with three saves against FGCU. As for Ballard McBride, he made an immediate impact in his Kentucky debut, netting his first goal as a Wildcat in the 61st minute off of a breakaway run.

After a disappointing early exit from the 2022 NCAA Tournament, head coach Johan Cedergren has reloaded his roster with sights set on a deeper run in 2023. Kentucky is once again projected to win the Sun Belt Conference with multiple all-conference selections. Mols is the Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while junior midfielder Casper Grening was named Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Senior midfielder Andrew Erickson and sophomore defender Max Miller join them as preseason all-conference members.

You won’t have to wait much longer to catch Kentucky in action again. The ‘Cats will take the pitch at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex on Monday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. EST against East Tennessee State. Tickets are available at the gate or you can purchase them online through the link here.