The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Sweeps MAC Soccer Awards; 9 Are All-MC
November 16 | Men's Soccer
The University of Akron men's soccer team, who won its 10th
Mid-American Conference title this year, swept the 2007 MAC
individual awards and had nine players named All-MAC, including a
school-record eight first team selections.
Headlining the list is 2007 MAC Player of the Year
Corey
Sipos, while Steve Zakuani was named MAC Newcomer of
the Year and Caleb Porter was named MAC Coach of
the Year. This marks the second time in school history the
Zips have swept the three MAC individual awards. Also, Akron has
now won the MAC Player of the Year Award five times, including each
of the last three years, the MAC Newcomer of the Year six times and
the MAC Coach of the Year four times.
Sipos joined his fellow defenders Elliot
Bradbrook and Ossie Michalsen, as well as goalkeeper Evan
Bush, on the first team All-MAC squad. Also being selected
first team was Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Matt
Tutich, Steve Kalan and Zakuani. Senior Pablo
Moreira was named second team All-MAC.
"To have so many of our players recognized by the conference
coaches is quite an honor for our program," Porter said. "However,
individual awards are a bi-product of team success and I look at it
as testament to our season and how we have performed as a
group."
Sipos, a senior from Tucson, Ariz., spearheaded an
Akron defense, which posted 11 shutouts, only allowed 11 goals and
did not allow a single goal in league play. Also, UA opponents only
managed 122 shots, with just 40 of those being on goal. The Zips
have only allowed three goals over their last 13 matches,
out-scoring their opponents 26-3 over the span. Sipos additionally
scored three goals on the season, including a header that allowed
the Zips to tie nationally-ranked Ohio State, 1-1. Sipos, who sat
out last season with an injury, was second team All-MAC in 2005 as
well as third team All-Great Lakes Region.
"For Corey to be recognized as the MAC Player of the Year, as a
defender where his impact is not always on the box score, says a
lot about the respect he has in the conference," Porter said. "He
is very deserving of this honor and I am proud of the season he has
had, especially considering he had to overcome so much adversity
last year with the knee injury."
Zakuani, a freshman from London, England, came on
strong as the season progressed, scoring five goals. He led the
Zips with 51 shots, 30 of which were on goal. Amazingly, his 30
shots on goal were two more than any other Zip had regular shots.
Also, four of his five goals came in league play as Akron
out-scored their MAC opponents 10-0 this season. Each of his two
assists came late in the season, including one on the game winner
versus Buffalo going a long way in UA winning the MAC
regular-season title. He also scored two game winners this season
and was named MAC Player of the Week.
Bradbrook, a senior from Kent, England, not only
was a force on the defensive end of the field, but he was one of
four Zips to score a team-best five goals this season. What's more
impressive is that he scored five goals while only taking 10 shots
on goal. Bradbrook added two assists. Bradbrook got the Zips'
season off with the first tally of the season in a win over #10 New
Mexico. He additionally scored the game winner versus
nationally-ranked UIC. He was honored as the MAC Player of the Week
once this season and the MAC Male Student-Athlete of the Week.
Michalsen, a junior from Bergen, Norway, earns
first team All-MAC honors for the third time in his three-year
career. He missed the first two matches due to injury and saw only
limited action in his first two matches back. However, upon his
return to the starting lineup, Akron's defense came together and
became the dominant force they were. In his first start of the
year, versus UIC, Michalsen had an assist on he game-winning goal,
while adding a second assist versus Hartwick.
Bush, a junior from Concord, Ohio, became the
school's all-time leader in shutouts, now with 34, thanks to 11
this season. He only allowed 10 goals this season, while making 27
saves. Bush ranked seventh in the NCAA in goals against average
(0.548), while the Zips were third in the NCAA in shutout
percentage (0.61). He had a stretch of over 1,000 minutes (over
nine matches) which he did not allow a goal, starting in the first
half of the UIC match Sept. 13 and running through the second
overtime of the Michigan contest Oct. 24. Bush was first team
All-MAC in 2005 as well as MAC Newcomer of the Year.
Ampaipitakwong, a freshman from Carrollton, Texas,
gave Zakuani a run for the MAC Newcomer of the Year. Ampaipitakwong
was named MAC Player of the Week in the first week of the season,
leading Akron to victories of #10 New Mexico and UAB. He ended the
season leading the MAC with nine assists while ranking 12th in the
NCAA in the category. He had a stretch of providing the Zips with
the assist on six straight goals.
Tutich, a junior from Westmont, Ill., led the Zips
with 13 points, scoring five goals and dishing out three assists.
He additionally scored a team best three goals. He was a first team
selection in 2006 as well, while earning Freshman All-American and
first team All-MAC in 2005.
Kalan, a senior from Highland Heights, Ohio, was
valuable to both the offense and defense from his midfield
position. He scored two goals and ranked second on the team with
four assists. He was additionally named first team All-MAC last
season and has started each match over the last three years.
Moreira, a senior from Broadview Heights, Ohio,
was one of four Zips to score a team-best five goals this season.
He closed his senior season by scoring the game winner at Western
Michigan and dishing out an assist ensuring the team's 10th MAC
title. Moreira was named first team All-MAC last season after
scoring five goals and having four assists.
Porter, the second-year Akron head coach, earned
his first MAC Coach of the Year. In addition to posting a 13-3-2
overall mark and winning the MAC Championship, Porter's Zips are
12th in the NCAA RPI and have been ranked nationally a majority of
the season.
Player of the Year: Corey
Sipos, Akron
Newcomer of the Year: Steve
Zakuani, Akron
Gary V. Palmisano Coach of The Year: Caleb
Porter, Akron
2007 MAC Men's Soccer First Team
MF Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Akron
MF Matt Tutich, Akron
MF Steve Kalan, Akron
MF Dan Stevens, Buffalo
F Steve Zakuani, Akron
F Dan Bulley, Buffalo
F John Paul Boyle, Hartwick
D Corey Sipos, Akron
D Elliot Bradbrook, Akron
D Ossie Michalsen, Akron
GK Evan Bush, Akron
2007 MAC Men's Soccer Second Team
MF Abiola Sandy, Bowling Green
MF Cameron Hepple, Bowling Green
MF Alex Marrello, Buffalo
MF Steven Amaya, Hartwick
F Pablo Moreira, Akron
F Marcus McCarty, Northern Illinois
F Tom Oatley, Western Michigan
D Thomas McLean, Bowling Green
D Daniel Gwyther, Buffalo
D Liam Parrington, Hartwick
D Steve Algozino, Northern Illinois
GK Daniel Bell, Buffalo
