The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Well Represented at PDL Championships
July 24 | Men's Soccer
Led by six University of Akron players, the Cleveland
Internationals edged the Toronto Lynx, 2-1, in the divisional round
of the Premier Development League (PDL) Championships Wednesday
night.
The win had a significant UA feel as Zips junior Ben
Zemanski (Akron, Ohio/CVCA) and incoming freshman Darlington
Nagbe (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edwards) scored both tallies while
senior Matt Tutich (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central)
recorded both assists.
Joining the trio on the roster are Akron teammates Chris
Korb (Gate Mills, Ohio/University School/Xavier), Michael
Nanchoff (North Royalton, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and 2007
Mid-American Conference Newcomer of the Year Steve
Zakuani (London, England/Gladesmore Community School).
The Internationals finished the regular season with a 10-3-3 record
in the Great Lakes Division to post their first winning record and
postseason trip in five years of play. With Wednesday night's
victory, the Internationals advanced to the Central Conference
semifinals.
After earning first-round byes, three other Zips players' teams are
awaiting their first playoff match of the prestigious
tournament.
Sophomore midfielders Anthony Ampaipitakwong (Carrollton,
Texas/IMG [Fla.] Academy) and Blair
Gavin (Franklin, Tenn./IMG [Fla.] Academy) helped guide the
Bradenton Academics to a 10-2-4 mark in the Southeast Division and
the team's fifth playoff appearance in 11 years while senior
goalkeeper Evan Bush's (Concord, Ohio/Lake Catholic) Cape
Cod Crusaders won the New England Division championship with a
9-3-4 to earn their seventh straight postseason appearance.
2008 Freshmen Garner National Acclaim
Additionally, Nagbe was one of four UA freshmen recently named to
the College Soccer News Top 100 Freshmen to Watch list. Joining Nagbe on the
elite directory are Chris Barton (Twinsburg, Ohio/Walsh
Jesuit), Teal Bunbury (Prior Lake, Minn./St.
Mary's School) and Kofi Sarkodie (Huber Heights,
Ohio/Edison Academic Center).
Barton, a defender, was an NSCAA Youth All-American as a senior and
the Ohio Division II Player of the Year while Bunbury starred as a
forward on the Canadian U-17 national team and was a two-time NSCAA
Youth All-American honoree.
Nagbe, a forward/midfielder, was a member of the Region II ODP
team, a 2007 adidas ESP All-Star and member of the Ohio North ODP
team. Sarkodie has been a fixture as a defender on the U.S.
national team, having participated at the U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-15
levels. He is also a two-time NSCAA Youth All-American.
The four standouts represent half of another stellar recruiting
class, which also includes midfielder Ryan
Greenhill (Solon, Ohio/Solon), forward Thomas
Schmitt (Berea, Ohio/Berea), defender Dominic
Moore (Akron, Ohio/Firestone) and goalkeeper James
McCormick (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park), brought in by
third-year head coach Caleb Porter and his staff that has
attracted national acclaim.
