Yannick Bright Named an America East Man of the Year Nominee

Yannick Bright

Photo by: Tim Cardew

Yannick Bright Named an America East Man of the Year Nominee

5/20/2024 2:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Bright is one of nine nominees for the prestigious award.

By: UNH Wildcats

BOSTON – University of New Hampshire senior men's soccer student-athlete Yannick Bright (Milan, Italy) has been named a nominee for the 2024 America East Man of the Year Award.

The America East Man of the Year Award is given to the top male senior student-athlete who has best distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership, according to the league's mission statement.

Three finalists will be announced on May 29 and the winner will be named on June 5.

Bright is a two-time America East Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year having won the honor in 2022 and 2023 as a Finance major. He is a two-time member of the CSC Academic All-District Team (2022 & 2023) and a two-time selection to the America East All-Academic Team (2022 & 2023). Bright was named to the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America First Team. He earned America East Commissioner's Honor Roll accolades twice (2021 & 2022) and was named to the America East Academic Honor Roll in 2020. Bright is a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society.

He is the first player in program history to be a three-time All-American. Bright was named to the First Team in 2021 and 2023, while he was selected to the Third Team in 2022. Also this past season he was one of 15 semifinalists for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy given to the nation's top college soccer player. Bright, who was also a semifinalist in 2021, is the first player in program history to be named a semifinalist twice.

He won his third straight America East Midfielder of the Year Award this past season as he is only the second student-athlete to win the award three times. He was also named to the All-Conference First Team for the third straight season and to the All-Academic Team for the second straight year.

He had three goals and eight assists for 14 points during his career at UNH.

Bright was drafted in the first round by Inter Miami CF with the 15th overall pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. He has appeared in six games so far with one start.

UNH field hockey student-athlete Jemma Woods (Frimley, England) is a nominee for the America East Woman of the Year award. CLICK HERE to read that press release.

The Wildcats concluded the 2023 season with a 13-3-4 record and advanced to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. UNH was the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament which was the highest seed in program history. The Wildcats defeated defending national champions Syracuse, 3-0, in the second round and then fell to No. 9 seed and eventual national champions Clemson, 1-0, in the first-ever Round of 16 game played at Wildcat Stadium.