SAN LUIS OBISPO – Following a rookie season in which he was named Co-Big West Freshman of the Year and helped anchor a defensive unit that paced all conference programs in shutouts (9) and ranked second for goal against average (0.94), Cal Poly men’s soccer sophomore center back Patrick Sigler was named to the 38-member Hermann Trophy Watch List Tuesday afternoon.

Presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club since 1967 to the most outstanding Division I player, the 38-athlete panel for the Hermann Trophy will be cut to 15 in November with three finalists announced in early December. The 2009 Hermann Trophy recipient will be announced Jan. 8, 2010 during a banquet at the St. Louis-based Missouri Athletic Club.

Selected to the All-Big West first team, NSCAA All-Far West Region team and to both the College Soccer News and Soccer America Freshman All-America squads last year, Sigler started all 23 matches for Cal Poly and netted five goals. As a team, the 2008 Mustangs matched a program record with 11 victories and not only qualified for their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 seasons, but recorded the program’s first postseason victory at the Division I level.

“Pat is a terrific young player and is maturing more and more each week,” fourth-year Cal Poly head coach Paul Holocher said. “He has come a long way since suffering an injury during his redshirt season (2007) and he knows that by training well and competing intelligently he can become a great player and leader.”

Sigler was the lone Big West player selected to the watch list.. The complete list of Hermann Trophy candidates is above.

Selected to finish third in the Big West standings following a preseason vote of the conference’s head coaches, Cal Poly opens training for the 2009 campaign Saturday, Aug. 15. The season-opening match versus UNLV is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The Mustangs will also host San Diego State for a Wednesday, Aug. 26 exhibition at 7 p.m.