PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Senior forward Amirah Ali and senior midfielder Frankie Tagliaferri are named 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy candidates, United Soccer Coaches announced on Thursday. It marks the first time two Scarlet Knights have earned a spot on the watch list in the same season.
 

AMIRAH ALI | SR | FORWARD
Ali earns a spot on the watch list for the third straight year, having been recognized as a semifinalist for the award in 2019 and 2020-21. She is the first Scarlet Knight to be named to three MAC Hermann Trophy Watch Lists and first to be tabbed a two-time semifinalist. 

The forward picked up All-America First Team honors this past season, becoming the first three-time All-American in program history. It marked her second straight First Team nod, having earned Second Team honors as a sophomore. 

The four-time All-Big Ten and three-time all-region honoree led the team with 15 points (7g, 1a) in 2020-21. Of Ali's team-high seven goals, four were gamewinners, including one in overtime to extend her program record to nine career golden goals. 
 
The two-time team captain pushed RU to its ninth straight NCAA Tournament in 2020-21, marking the 11th in the last 13 years and 15th overall. Ali scored the gamewinner in the 1-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the First Round, advancing RU to the Second Round for the first time since 2017.

Majoring in criminal justice, Ali is an Academic All-Big Ten recipient. Following her final year of eligibility in Fall 2021, Ali will join the Portland Thorns in the NWSL, having been drafted by the club this past January.


 
FRANKIE TAGLIAFERRI | SR | MIDFIELDER
Tagliaferri, a Big Ten transfer to the program this year, arrives "To the Banks" as an All-American, two-time All-Region, four-time All-Big Ten, and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Across her first four collegiate years, the midfielder started 64 of 90 games, totaling 79 points, 27 goals, 25 assists and seven gamewinners.
 
This spring, Tagliaferri led the Big Ten in points (29) and was second in goals (10) and assists (9). Her 29 points were tied for ninth in the NCAA. The New Jersey native is the NCAA active leader in games played (90), eighth in assists (25) and 16th in points (79).
 
Across her four years, Tagliaferri became a two-time Big Ten Tournament Champion and a two-time conference regular season champion. The midfielder has appeared in four straight NCAA Tournaments, including two quarterfinal runs.
 
Tagliaferri is also a member of the U.S. Women's National team pool, most recently joining he U-19 squad for camp in May 2018. She has been rostered on the USWNT at the U-14, U-15, U-17, U-19 and U-20 levels. The Academic All-Big Ten honoree graduated with a degree in kinesiology this May.
 
The duo of Ali and Tagliaferri bring the program's total to 13 recognitions on a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.

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