The University of Akron Athletics
Nagbe, Sarkodie Earn All-Freshman Honors
December 17 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – Two gems from the
highly-touted 2008 University of Akron men's soccer recruiting
class, forward Darlington Nagbe and defender Kofi
Sarkodie, were named to Soccer America's All-Freshman
team, the esteemed publication announced Wednesday.
Akron was one of three schools to place two first-year players on
the 11-man First Team with 2008 national champion Maryland and
national runners-up North Carolina also qualifying. Both Nagbe and
Sarkodie also represented Akron on the All-Mid-American Conference
First Team this season.
Nagbe, the 2008 MAC Newcomer of the Year, came into his own as the
season progressed, finishing with a pair of goals and three assists
for the Zips' offense, which was ranked 11th in the nation. The
speedy striker scored a pair of goals in a win against Florida
Atlantic (Sept. 19) and led the Zips to a pair of road victories by
assisting scores in back-to-back games at Hartwick (Nov. 1) and at
Ohio State (Nov. 7).
Nagbe was instrumental in the Zips' 1-0 double overtime victory
against Northern Illinois in the MAC Tournament championship game,
starting in place of injured star Steve
Zakuani. In all, Nagbe appeared in all 23 games for UA and made
14 starts.
Sarkodie, another highly-touted recruit and U.S. national youth
team captain, helped guide the Zips to the best defensive season in
school history with a team goals-against-average of 0.45, the top
mark in the nation.
The young star recorded a goal in his first collegiate game to help
Akron upset then-ranked No. 3 Notre Dame in the season opener and
added a pair of assists as the season progressed in addition to
playing lock-down defense.
In addition to his all-conference honors, Sarkodie was also named
to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA)/adidas All-Great Lakes Region Second Team – the only
freshman named to the 33-player all-region squad – and the
Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team. Sarkodie stated all
23 games for the Zips last season.
SOCCER AMERICA 2008 ALL-FRESHMAN
First Team
Zac MacMath, Maryland
Will Bruin, Indiana
Lucky Mkosana, Dartmouth
Darlington Nagbe, Akron
Austin Neil, Tulsa
Kofi Sarkodie, Akron
Billy Schuler, North Carolina
Tony Tchani, Virginia
Casey Townsend, Maryland**
Dan Wenzel, Wake Forest
Sheanon Williams, North Carolina
Second Team
Andrew Fontein, UC Irvine
Brian Holt, Creighton
Michael Bustamante, Boston University
Tony Cascio, Connecticut
Sam Garza, Denver
Matt Kassel, Maryland
Danny Mwanga, Oregon State
Brian Ownby, Virginia
Colin Rolfe, Louisville
Patrick Sigler, Cal Poly
Kirk Urso, North Carolina
** 2008 Soccer America Freshman of the Year
