The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Sophomores Named NSCAA All-Americans
December 12 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – One day after garnering
all-region honors, University of Akron sophomores Steve
Zakuani and Anthony Ampaipitakwong were named to the 2008
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas
All-America Team Friday.
Akron was one of six schools to place two members on the esteemed
team, joining Creighton, Harvard, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola (Md.)
and Cal-Davis. Defending national champion Wake Forest had five
honorees.
Zakuani, the nation's leading scorer, was named to the first team
while Ampaipitakwong garnered third-team accolades. They represent
the 39th and 40th All-America selections in the 54-year history of
Akron soccer.
It is the 11th time Akron has placed multiple members on the NSCAA
All-America team overall and the first time since 2005 (Ross
McKenzie, Yohann Mauger, Sinisa Ubiparipovic).
The UA duo represented two of just five underclassmen on the
41-player team. Zakuani and fellow sophomore Corben Bone from Wake
Forest were the only two underclassmen to earn first-team
status.
Zakuani, who is expected to be named one of three finalists for the
Hermann Trophy award today, is the 2008 MAC Player of the Year, the
Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Season and an All-Great
Lakes Region first-team honoree. He led the nation with 20 goals
and 47 points in 23 games.
Ampaipitakwong joined Zakuani on the all-region team Thursday and
is a two-time first team All-Mid-American Conference performer. He
was a College Soccer News Freshman All-American in 2007. He
finished the '08 campaign with a personal-high four goals and five
assists.
The All-America selections are invited to be recognized at the
annual All-America luncheon, to be held in St. Louis, Mo., on
Saturday, Jan. 17 as part of the 2009 NSCAA Convention.
For the complete list of NSCAA All-Americans, visit www.nscaa.com.
