Kelley O'Hara became the first Stanford player to win the Women's Hermann Trophy when she was named the winner of the 2009 award, beating out follow a pair of seniors and Olympic gold-medalists, North Carolina midfielder Tobin Heath and UCLA forward Lauren Cheney.

"It's a great way to end the college season," O'Hara said. "I'm so thankful, and blessed. But the reason I was able to get the award was because of my teammates. I couldn't have done it without them."

O'Hara, who also was named the 2009 Soccer America Player of the Year, led Stanford to 25 straight wins before falling to North Carolina, 1-0, in its first NCAA championship final

She shattered school scoring records along the way and led the nation in goals (26) and points (65).

O'Hara said she wasn't nervous, and never felt as if she was destined to win.
 
"I'm sitting next to Tobin Heath and Lauren Cheney, and they both have Olympic gold medals," she said. "I had a good season, but I don't know if I could have expected it."

WOMEN'S HERMANN TROPHY WINNERS
1988: Michelle Akers, Central Florida
1989: Shannon Higgins, North Carolina
1990: April Kater, Massachusetts
1991: Kristine Lilly, North Carolina
1992: Mia Hamm, North Carolina
1993: Mia Hamm, North Carolina
1994: Tisha Venturini, North Carolina
1995: Shannon MacMillan, Portland
1996: Cindy Daws, Notre Dame
1997: Cindy Parlow, North Carolina
1998: Cindy Parlow, North Carolina
1999: Mandy Clemens, Santa Clara
2000: Anne Makinen, Notre Dame
2001: Christie Welsh, Penn State
2002: Aly Wagner, Santa Clara
2003: Catherine Reddick, North Carolina
2004: Christine Sinclair, Portland
2005: Christine Sinclair, Portland
2006: Kerri Hanks, Notre Dame
2007: Mami Yamaguchi, Florida State
2008: Kerri Hanks, Notre Dame
2009: Kelley O'Hara, Stanford