The University of Akron Athletics
Zakuani Named National Player of the Week Again
November 10 | Men's Soccer
University of Akron sophomore Steve
Zakuani was named National Player of the Week by College
Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer Monday. It is the
second time this season the Zips' star forward has earned the
distinction.
Zakuani, who was also named Mid-American Conference Player of the
Week for the sixth time this season, scored a pair of goals and
assisted two others as the Zips (15-1-3) rallied to a 4-3 victory
at Ohio State in UA's lone game last week. The Hermann Trophy
candidate's first goal started the scoring in the 18th minute and
his second pulled Akron even at 3-3 in the 68th minute. He then
assisted the game-winner in the 82nd minute to complete the
improbable comeback that saw the Zips battle back from second-half
deficits of 2-1 and 3-2.
Zakuani, who has found the net four times in his last two games, is
currently ranked fifth on the school's single-season goals scored
list with 19 in 19 games while his total of 45 points on the year
is ranked sixth. He leads the nation in both categories.
Zakuani has posted multiple goals in five games this year,
including the last two. He recorded the first two hat tricks of his
young career at Northern Illinois (Oct. 4) and against Wright State
(Oct. 15). He was named National Player of the Week by Top
Drawer Soccer following his three-goal performance at NIU.
The Zips are amidst one of their best seasons in school history.
With 15 wins on the year, the UA is just three shy of matching the
school record of 18 set in 2005. With 12 shutouts through 19 games,
Akron is three short of the school record is on pace to set the
standard with a goals-against-average of 0.45.
Akron, which will host the MAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed from
Nov. 13-16, clinched its league-leading 11th regular-season
championship this season with its seventh undefeated MAC season
since 1993. The Zips will play the winner of the quarterfinal game
between Western Michigan and Hartwick Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at
Lee Jackson Field.
Notable Zakuani Superlatives
Hermann Trophy Watch List (2008)
Soccer America Preseason All-American (2008)
Two-Time National Player of the Week, Top Drawer Soccer
(Oct. 6, Oct. 10 2008)
National Player of the Week, College Soccer News (Oct. 10,
2008)
Five-Time National Team of the Week honoree, Top Drawer
Soccer (2008)
Four-Time National Team of the Week honoree, College Soccer
News (2008)
Two-Time National Team of the Week honoree, Soccer America
(2008)
Six-Time Mid-American Conference Player of the Week (2008)
College Soccer News Player to Watch (2008)
MAC Newcomer of the Year (2007)
College Soccer News All-Freshman Team (2007)
All-Great Lakes Region First Team (2007)
All-MAC First Team (2007)
