West Islip's Ben Arikian Named a Candidate for College Soccer's Biggest Award

Former West Islip soccer standout, Ben Arikian, has been named to the 2010 Hermann Trophy watch list for college soccer. This is the second straight season he has been nominated for the award. Arikian has also been named to 2010 College Soccer Pre-Season All America Second Team.

The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top male and female college players. A list of potential nominees is compiled by a nominating committee whom they feel are the best in Division I soccer players in the country.

A 2005 All-America during his time at West Islip High School, Aiken, 22, had 47 assists and 33 goals for the Lions.

According to UMass Athletics, Arikian's time at the university has coincided with two of the program's best seasons in its 77-year history. Entering his senior season, Arikian has played in 63 career matches at UMass scoring nine goals while adding 17 assists for 35 points. He has five career game-winning goals in that time.

Arikian is trying to become the second player from one of West Islip's two high schools, St. John the Baptist and West Islip, to capture this Heisman Trophy-esque award. In 2000, Chris Wingert, graduate of SJB won the award while playing for the St. John's Red Storm. Wingert now plays professional soccer in the MLS for Real Salt Lake.

Stay tuned to Patch for more updates on Arikian