Florida State defender - and Woodbury native - Kassey Kallman is in the running for college soccer's highest award, the Hermann Trophy. The senior was named one of 15 semifinalists for the award last week, which will be given out at the Missouri Athletic Club's banquet in January.

The three finalists for the Hermann Trophy will be decided through a weighted vote that includes both voting by coaches and an online fan vote. (You can go here to cast your vote, should you wish to make your voice heard in the voting.)

Kallman and her FSU teammates came within a whisker of adding a national championship to their trophy case, as well. They beat Virginia Tech 3-2 in Friday's semifinals, but lost 1-0 in overtime against UCLA in Sunday's championship, a heartbreaking end to what was arguably the best season in school history.

For more on Kassey - and the rest of the Kallman soccer dynasty - the NCAA website had a good story on the family. According to that article, Kassey plans to enter the Women's Premier Soccer League draft; she could be following her brothers Brian and Brent into the pro soccer ranks.

In other local soccer news, NBC Sports ran a good online article about Maple Grove native Cody Cropper, who is perhaps the next great American goalkeeper. The 20-year-old is currently toiling at Southampton in the English Premier League, and hoping to become the latest in a long line of USA keepers who have made their mark in England, following greats like Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, and Tim Howard.

It turned out the article was timed pretty well. Last week, Cropper made it into the match-day squad for Southampton for the first time ever, serving as the backup keeper on both Wednesday and Saturday. The Saints are down to their third choice in net at the moment, with two veterans out injured in front of him.

The article also mentions that Cropper commiserated with his interviewer about the Vikings' and Wild's struggles, and if that doesn't make him officially "One of Us," nothing will.

(My thanks to local soccer expert Brian Quarstad for sending over the above links, and keeping us all informed on the Minnesota soccer scene.)