Minding the Net!: Bianca Henninger Takes You Behind the Scenes of the Broncos Preseason Bonding Trip

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Preparing for what will be a stellar season, Santa Clara women's soccer senior goalkeeper Bianca Henninger has been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List as well as nominated for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.

The MAC Hermann Trophy is the highest individual award in intercollegiate soccer. The recipients are selected by head coaches of NCAA Division I programs who are members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Santa Clara's Mandy Clemens won the Hermann Trophy in 1999 and Aly Wagner won the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy in 2002.

The Lowe's Senior Class Award recognizes the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition.

From the list of 30 candidates for both men and women, a national media committee will select ten finalists for the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in early October.  Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. The winners will then be announced at the NCAA Division I College Cups.

"Bianca is an amazing individual," said Bronco women's soccer head coach Jerry Smith. "In addition to being one of the best goalkeepers in the world, she is a bright student, a tremendous leader, and a very compassionate and caring young woman. In short, Bianca is one of the most amazing individuals I've had the pleasure of working with in my 25 years as head coach at Santa Clara University."

Henninger has a 3.4 GPA as an accounting major and was named to the 2011 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team. Henninger has also been selected to the WCC All-Academic Team twice and the WCC Commissioner's List three times.

She has also worked extensively with BAWSI whose goal is to get elementary school girls outside and moving. She was part of the BAWSI Sportspalooza in Spring 2011.

On the field Henninger was named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year in 2010 and was a 2010 All-America selection. In addition to being All-WCC in 2010 she was named to the preseason All-WCC team in 2011. In 2010 she collected eight shutouts with a 0.63 GAA and led the WCC with 90 saves and a .865 save percentage.

Henninger and the Broncos start the season this Fri. Aug. 19 at San Jose State. Kick off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.