KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri State senior defender Kyle Hiebert was selected as one of 15 semifinalists for the 2020-21 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the organization announced today along with the United Soccer Coaches.
 
The MAC Hermann Trophy, presented by World Wide Technology, is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967.
 
Hiebert (Sr., La Salle, Manitoba, Canada) becomes the second straight Missouri State player to be named a semifinalist for the postseason award after Matthew Bentley also landed on the 15-player list in 2019.
 
The senior standout has added another excellent season to his illustrious four-year career with Missouri State, starting all 13 matches of the 2021 season to extend his overall streak to 67 consecutive starts in the Bears backline.  The captain has played a key role in guiding the Bears to a 12-1-0 record, their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and the program's first trip to the Sweet 16. 
 
Hiebert was named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and has helped the MSU defense post six shutouts and register a .687 goals against average this year.  He scored his first points of the season on a goal versus Creighton (March 10) and, later, chipped in an assist at Loyola (March 26). 
 
"Sporting awards that recognize excellent performance are always a reflection of the excellence of the team – and this is an excellent team," acknowledged sport director Michael Seabolt.  "Having said that, Kyle's consistency performing at the highest level is extraordinary.  Delayed gratification is a value we all find difficult to master, but it is the hallmark of Kyle's career, as he spent his first two years battling injuries before he could enjoy the fruits of his labor.  Everyone at Missouri State University is proud that Kyle is one of our own."
 
Hiebert's impressive list of 2021 accolades also includes All-MVC First Team, MVC All-Tournament Team, and MVC Defensive Player of the Week (March 16).  The three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American also earned back-to-back MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors and was selected to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team for the fourth straight year.
 
Three men and three women finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, May 12. The 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on May 27, 2021 to formally announce this year's winners.
 
Hiebert and the Bears are set to play in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament for the first time in program history where the Bears will face seventh-seeded Washington (11-3-0) on Thursday, May 6 at 11 a.m. (Central).  The match will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park on Field #4 in Cary, N.C. and will be streamed on GoHeels.com.
 
2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy Men's Semifinalists
Gloire Amanda         Oregon State
Victor Bezerra           Indiana
Noel Caliskan           Loyola Marymount
Vitor Dias                   Marshall
Bridger Hansen        New Hampshire
Kyle Hiebert             Missouri State
Noah Jensen            Oakland
Thomas Judge         James Madison
Jasper Loeffelsend Pittsburgh
MD Myers                  High Point
Valentin Noel             Pittsburgh
Dante Polvara           Georgetown
Zach Ryan                Stanford
Lukas Sunesson      Marquette
Dylan Teves              Washington