A Rising Star in College Soccer
Martin Kozak, a midfielder who completed his junior year at Elon University, has been selected for the 2025 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, a preseason acknowledgment that highlights the nation’s most promising midfielders.
The watch list, compiled from Division I All‑Americans and recent All‑Region honorees who will return for the 2026 campaign, places Kozak among a select group of players expected to contend for the award that will be presented at the conclusion of the upcoming season.
Kozak’s 2024 season was a breakout year: he contributed 18 points, comprising five goals and eight assists, the most assists the program has recorded since 2006, and earned All‑CAA Third Team recognition as well as a spot on the United Soccer Coaches Second Team All‑Atlantic Region.
His performance culminated with the team’s CAA Tournament title, where he was named Most Outstanding Player after delivering eight points during the championship run, a feat that also secured his inclusion on the All‑CAA Tournament Team.
Kozak becomes the first Elon player to appear on the Hermann Trophy watch list since Scott Vatne earned the honor in 2024, marking a milestone for the program and underscoring the midfielder’s growing national reputation.
The 2026 season will open with a home match against VMI at Rudd Field on August 20 at 7 p.m., a game that will serve as the first test for a squad eager to translate early accolades into on‑field success.
Beyond individual milestones, the recognition reflects the broader growth of Elon’s men’s soccer program, which has steadily increased its competitive footprint within the Colonial Athletic Association and now looks to leverage that momentum as it prepares for a full schedule later in the year.