Here are the results of the SA Online December 1997 Poll, in which 1,484 fans voted for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year and the Men’s and Women’s Collegiate Players of the Year:
U.S. Soccer Men’s Player of the Year
| |
| Rank/Name | Votes |
| 1. Eddie Pope | 280 |
| 2. Kasey Keller | 241 |
| 3. Claudio Reyna | 165 |
| 4. Thomas Dooley | 159 |
| 5. Preki Radosavljevic | 109 |
Others receiving votes: John Harkes 93; Eric Wynalda 79; Brad Friedel 67; Marcelo Balboa 54; Alexi Lalas 51; Roy Wegerle 25.
U.S. Soccer Women’s Player of the Year
| |
| Rank/Name | Votes |
| 1. Mia Hamm | 847 |
| 2. Julie Foudy | 108 |
| 3. Tisha Venturini | 75 |
| 4. Michelle Akers | 54 |
| 5. Kristine Lilly | 47 |
Others receiving votes: Shannon MacMillan 35; Briana Scurry 33; Brandi Chastain 31; Tiffeny Milbrett 26; Thori Staples 9.
Men’s College Player of the Year
| |
| Rank/Name (School) | Votes |
| 1. Ben Olsen (Virginia) | 240 |
| 2. Johnny Torres (Creighton) | 203 |
| 3. Seth George (UCLA) | 161 |
| 4. Dema Kovalenko (Indiana) | 133 |
| 5. Jay Heaps (Duke) | 77 |
Others receiving votes: Daniel Hernandez (SMU) 59; Lazo Alavanja (Indiana) 56; Leo Cullen (Maryland) 54; Caleb Porter (Indiana) 50; Billy Walsh (Rutgers) 47; Scott Vermillion (Virginia) 42; Matt Chulis (Virginia) 37; Scott Pearson (American) 33; Clint Mathis (South Carolina), Carey Talley (North Carolina) 30; Matt Jordan (Clemson) 22; Alen Kozic (Florida International) 19; Jeff Cunningham (South Florida) 18; Avery John (American) 13; Josh Wolff (South Carolina) 10; Chris Klein (Indiana) 4; Matt Reis (UCLA) 3; Jason Russell (Georgia Southern) 2; Wade Barrett (William & Mary), Jason Boyce (Washington), Mike Burrell (Georgia Southern), David Hayes (Wingate), Ryan Schwaigert (Bowling Green) 1.
Women’s College Player of the Year
| |
| Rank/Name (School) | Votes |
| 1. Cindy Parlow (North Carolina) | 280 |
| 2. Sara Whalen (Connecticut) | 193 |
| 3. Robin Confer (North Carolina) | 98 |
| 4. Tiffany Roberts (North Carolina) | 93 |
| 5. Holly Manthei (Notre Dame) | 68 |
Others receiving votes: Mandy Clemens (Santa Clara) 56; Ann Cook (William & Mary) 54; Justi Baumgardt (Portland) 46; Bryn Blalack (Texas A&M) 43; Andi Melde (Duke), Staci Wilson (North Carolina) 42; Lorrie Fair (North Carolina) 36; Laurie Schwoy (North Carolina) 33; Jamie Pagliarulo (George Mason), Anne Makinen (Notre Dame) 32; Megan Boehm (Virginia) 30; Jen Grubb (Notre Dame) 23; Sara Burkett (Clemson) 21; Kate Sobrero (Notre Dame) 20; Jenny Streiffer (Notre Dame) 13; Nel Fettig (North Carolina) 4; Erin O’Grady (Syracuse), Stephanie Yarem (Georgia) 1.
