O'Rourke caps off career in grand fashion

CARSON, Calif. -- The National Soccer Coaches Association of America named IU senior midfielder Danny O'Rourke one of three finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy. The MAC Hermann Trophy is college soccer's equivalent to college football's Heisman Trophy.\nTulsa University senior Ryan Pore and Virginia Commenwealth University's Gonzalo Segares are also up for the award.\nO'Rourke is also the recipient of the NSCAA's Scholar Athlete of the Year award, and, along with IU junior back Drew Moor, the NSCAA named the two to the organization's first team All-American list. Senior goalkeeper Jay Nolly received third team All-American honors.\n"Danny coming into the season was showcased as one of the top players in the country and he's definitely showed that by his hard work on the field," said junior midfielder Brian Plotkin. "On the biggest stage of college soccer, Danny is definitely showing exactly why (he is one of the country's top players)."\nThe NSCAA nominated O'Rourke's teammate on the backline, Moor, as a semifinalist for the award. But Moor did not make the cut for the finalists.\nO'Rourke only has eight points on the season, with two goals, but it is his play in the midfield and aiding defenders Moor, sophomores Julian Dieterle and Jed Zayner on the backline in front of Nolly that earns him national recognition.\nIn Friday's semifinal match against Maryland, O'Rourke twice pushed the ball up the field, leading to two key scoring chances for the Hoosiers, with junior Mike Ambersley converting on the second try.\nO'Rourke's final play on the ball is what led to sophomore midfielder John Michael Hayden netting the game winner with 48 seconds remaining in the second golden-goal period against the Terrapins. O'Rourke was outside of the box on the right side and played the ball into the box to Hayden, who ran 15 yards into the six-yard box to head the ball into the upper-right corner of the goal.\n"Danny's just one guy, but he's a special guy," said IU coach Mike Freitag. "He's a ball winner. You don't find a player with his attributes all in one. He can run all day. He's fast, he's quick, he's tough and he's become a very good soccer player and that's why he is one of the finalists for the Hermann Trophy. He means a lot to this team, but no more than anybody else. He's one of the pieces of the puzzle and a very, very good piece."\nO'Rourke finished the Maryland game with one shot and one assist giving him his fourth assist on the year. He started all but one game this season when he had to sit out the New Mexico game Sept. 19, because of a red card he received the day before in the Hoosiers' regular season 1-0 double overtime loss to UC-Santa Barbara.\n"It's pretty amazing sometimes with the things he does," Zayner said. "Give him credit for everything basically that the team does. He's the heart of our team and I just can't thank him so much more for just working his heart out and just being a true Hoosier, the traditional Hoosier. (Retired) coach (Jerry) Yeagley has it written down that the traditional Hoosier works their butt off and leaves everything on the field."\nO'Rourke finished Sunday's national championship game without recording a statistic in the box score, but he still earned All-Tournament team honors. Even if the NSCAA does not bestow O'Rourke with the association's prestigious award, he ended his career as part of a back-to-back national title squad.\n"I'm so proud of these guys," O'Rourke said. "Just the vibe in the locker room and on the field after we won -- to be able to weather the storm ... It's a great day for this program."\n-- Contact staff writer Steve Slivka at smslivka@indiana.edu.