The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Lands Six on All-Great Lakes Region Team
December 11 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The postseason accolades
continued to roll in for the University of Akron men's soccer
program following its record-setting season as six players were
named to the All-Great Lakes Region team by the National Soccer
Coaches Association of America Thursday.
Akron's six honorees were the most recorded by any program in the
region. Moreover, as a sign of UA's bright future and a statement
to the quality of student-athletes head coach Caleb
Porter and his staff have been able to attract, four of the
seven underclassmen represented on the 33-player all-region team
are from Akron.
"It is quite an honor to have so many players represented," said
Porter, who recently signed a new
five-year contract at Akron. "It says a lot about the quality of
our players and is a great indication of the respect people have
for our program on a regional and national scale."
Highlighting the exclusive list for the Zips were sophomore forward
Steve Zakuani and second-year midfielder Anthony
Ampaipitakwong, who each garnered first-team honors. Zakuani
and Ampaipitakwong were the only underclassmen represented on the
11-player first team.
It has already been an active off-season for Zakuani, who is the
2008 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, the Top Drawer
Soccer Player of the Season and one of 15 finalists for the
Hermann Trophy. Zakuani, an all-region selection last season and
2008 preseason All-American, led the nation in scoring with 20
goals and 47 points in 23 games.
Ampaipitakwong started every game for UA in 2008 while recording a
career-best four goals, including a pair of game-winners. It is the
second time he has earned all-region honors from the NSCAA.
Ampaipitakwong, a two-time first team all-conference performer,
finished fourth on the Zips with five assists in 2008.
Also earning all-region honors were goal keeper Evan
Bush, defender Kofi Sarkodie and midfielder Matt
Tutich. The three standouts were named to the second team.
Bush put the finishing touches on a career that will go down as the
best ever recorded by an Akron keeper in 2008. The senior and three
time first-team all-league performer leaves the field as the MAC's
all-time wins (62) and shutouts (48) leader while owning the
school's career mark for minutes played (8,010).
Sarkodie, a highly-touted recruit and U.S. national youth team
captain, stepped in as a true freshman and helped guide the Zips to
the best defensive season in school history with a team
goals-against-average of 0.45. It is the third post-season honor
for the young star, who was also named to the All-MAC first team
and the Top Drawer Soccer all-freshman team.
Sarkodie was the only freshman to be named to the 33-player
all-region squad.
Tutich saved his best for last as the midfielder enjoyed a breakout
year, hitting career highs for goals (6), assists (9), shots (52)
and points (21), as a senior in 2008. Tutich, a four time
first-team all-conference player, notched a trio of game-winners
this past fall, but none was as important than the header that sunk
Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with five
seconds remaining in the second overtime period.
Rounding out the list of Akron all-regional honorees was sophomore
Blair Gavin, who picked up third team
recognition. The midfielder recorded the game-winning goal while
assisting another in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory at Ohio State
during the regular season and was an All-MAC first team selection
in 2008.
Gavin, who was selected to the U.S. U20 national team last
February, was a key initiator in Akron's high-powered offense all
season long as the team finished with 47 goals – its
second-highest total since 1999.
Akron (17-2-4) posted the second-highest win total in the history
of the program in 2008 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA
Tournament for the fourth time. The Zips were ranked No.4 in the
nation in the final NSCAA/adidas poll.
2008 NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region Honorees
First Team
GK - Jovan Bubonja, Jr., Illinois-Chicago
D - Matthew Besler, Sr., Notre Dame
D - Mark Blades, Jr., Northwestern
D - Michael Holody, Sr., Michigan
MF - Anthony Ampaipitakwong, So., Akron
MF - Baggio Husidic, Jr., Illinois-Chicago
MF - Brad Ring, Sr., Indiana
F - Doug DeMartin, Sr., Michigan State
F - Chinedu Dike, Sr., Notre Dame
F - Perica Marosevic, Jr., Michigan
F - Steve Zakuani, So., Akron
Second Team
GK - Evan Bush, Sr., Akron
D - Kevin Alston, Jr., Indiana
D - Kofi Sarkodie, Fr., Akron
D - Robert Younger, So., Illinois-Chicago
MF - Eric Gehrig, Jr., Loyola Chicago
MF - Jake Stacy, Sr., Michigan
MF - Matthew Thomas, Jr., Notre Dame
F - Matthew Eliason, So., Northwestern
F - Mauro Fuzetti, Jr., Michigan
F - Eduardo Garcia, Sr., Butler
F - Matt Tutich, Sr., Akron
Third Team
GK - Nick Steinlage, So., Michigan State
D - Tim Gabel, Sr., Ohio State
D - David Hertel, Sr. Michigan State
D - Drew Jeskey, Sr., Northern Illinois
MF - Blair Gavin, So., Akron
MF - Keum Sung Kim, Sr., Loyola Chicago
MF - Zachary Scaffidi, Sr., Michigan State
F - John Boyle, Sr., Hartwick
F - Frank Patano, Sr., Butler
F - Slavisa Ubiparipovic, Jr., Cleveland State
F - Steffen Vroom, Jr., DePaul
