KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Old Dominion women’s soccer’s defenders Ashlynn Kulha and Libby Holmes have been named to the 2026 Hermann Trophy Watch List, announced the United Soccer Coaches on Monday.
The Hermann Trophy is presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club and is the nation’s highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year through voting held by Division I head coaches who are also a member of United Soccer Coaches.
The 2026 watch list was compiled by members of the Division I Women’s All-America Council from a list of returning 2025 All-Americans and First Team All-Region Players. The total list of 43 members will be cut down to 15 players and the remaining players will be named 2025 Hermann Trophy semifinalists on December 2 after the completion of NCAA Division I All-American voting. From that list, three players will be named finalists and the 2026 recipient of the award will be announced on January 9, 2026.
Kulha was named the first ever back-to-back Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year at the end of the 2025 season. The senior from Holly Springs, North Carolina was key in securing six shutouts for the Monarchs. The six clean sheets ranked third in the conference and she was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on August 26. Kulha helped hold Power Four opponent Maryland to one shot in the entire game and scored a diving header in a 2-0 victory.
In all games played during the regular season, ODU ranked second in the Sun Belt in total goals allowed (17) and goals against average (.94). ODU’s ranking stays the same in conference games and the Monarchs were tied for second in goals allowed (9) and goals against average (.90). ODU had a +20 goal differential over 18 games played and in conference contests ODU has a +13 goal differential.
Holmes joined Old Dominion this season after spending last year at ULM. She was a part of a team that won the Sun Belt regular season championship. The English native was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team and secured All-Sun Belt First Team honors. She played in 19 matches last season and finished second on the Warhawks with five goals and recorded four assists for 14 points. She notched a career-high five points against Troy (10/19/2025) after scoring two goals and providing one assist.
Holmes ranked tied for 10th in the Sun Belt for goals in conference matchups (3) and averaged 0.30 goals per game as a defender last year. Her five points in a single matchup ranks tied for the third highest among Sun Belt participants last season and her two goals against Troy also tied for the second highest individual performance.