Jamaica's Davis among elite in US women's football

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

National representative Omolyn Davis is among a selected group of 45 collegiate players, who have been named to the 2010 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List, released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) last Thursday.

The Hermann Trophy, considered the highest individual honour in intercollegiate soccer, was first awarded in 1988.

Davis was named All-CAA and NSCAA All-Region in 2009 when she helped George Mason University to the nation's top turnaround in wins. She scored team-high 10 goals, while tying for the team high with eight assists. Her 28 points, 61 shots and 29 shots on goal led the team and she was fifth with 1,382 minutes played. Davis finished the season with two game-winning goals.

The 23-year-old Davis is a former standout at Excelsior High. She also represented Waterhouse in the Sherwin Williams Premier League in which she was voted the most valuable player and the leading goalscorer in 2007.

Davis also played for the national senior team that competed in the 2007 Pan-American Games. She also competed in the women's Premier Soccer League for FC Indiana winning the league title.

Vin Blaine, coach of the national women's team, said he was elated with Davis' nomination because she has always proven to be a cut above her peers.

"I am not surprised because from a young age, Omolyn has shown a lot of potential at the Excelsior High," said Blaine. "She was always a cut above the rest in the midfield with her quick dribbling skills and off-the-ball movements," he said.

Good company

Blaine added: "She has been nominated with the top players in the United States (US) and these players have represented the US and Canada on the world stage and so she is in good company."

Meanwhile, voting for the MAC Hermann Trophy by college coaches will be conducted in late November. A field of 15 semi-finalists will be reduced to three finalists. Those three will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St Louis on January 7, 2011. A news conference will be held to announce the winner, followed by a banquet to honour the three finalists.