The University of Akron Athletics
Bunbury One of Three Finalists for Hermann Trophy
December 11 | Men's Soccer
University of Akron sophomore Teal Bunbury is one of three
finalists for the 2009 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the
organization announced Friday.
It is the second consecutive year an Akron player has been named a
finalist for what is considered the highest individual honor in
intercollegiate soccer as current Major League Soccer star Steve
Zakuani finished first runner-up in 2008. Joining Bunbury on
the prestigious list are Andre Akpan from Harvard and Corben Bone
from Wake Forest.
The finalists were determined in voting by Division I men's soccer
coaches who are members of the National Soccer Coaches Association
of America (NSCAA).
The trio will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown
St. Louis on Friday, Jan. 8, for a news conference, where the
winner of the award will be revealed (approximately 7 p.m. EST). A
banquet at the Club that evening will feature the formal
presentation of the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy to the
winner.
After netting six goals as a true freshman last season, Bunbury,
the 2009 Mid-American Conference and Goal.com Player of the Year,
has developed into the most dangerous striker in the nation this
fall.
The native of Prior Lake, Minn., enters this weekend's College Cup
as the nation's leader in goals scored with 17 on the campaign. Of
his 17 goals, five have been game-winners while four of his five
assists have led to game-winning goals.
In all, he
has recorded at least one point 16 times in 23 games and scored
multiple goals in four contests. Bunbury enjoyed an incredible run
from late September to early November, scoring 14 goals in a
12-game span, including game-winners against Florida Atlantic,
Virginia Tech, Buffalo and Penn State.
For the season, Bunbury has totaled a team-high 39 points while
starting every game this season for the nation's No. 1 ranked
attacking unit. Moreover, against teams that made the NCAA
Tournament this regular season, he registered 10 points - averaging
more than a point per game.
In addition to his player of the year honors from the MAC and
Goal.com, Bunbury was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of
the Season (First Team). He was named National Player of the Week
by College Soccer News on Nov. 3 and earned a spot on
multiple national teams of the week by Top Drawer Soccer
(Sept. 21, Nov. 3) and College Soccer News (Nov. 3).
Were he to win, Bunbury would be just the third sophomore ever to
do so. He and Zakuani are the only two players in Akron history to
be finalists for the Hermann Trophy.
Akpan, a senior forward from Grand Prairie, Texas, was the 2009 Ivy
League Player of the Year and an All-Ivy League first team. This
season he led the Crimson with 12 goals, including four
game-winning tallies, and 30 points. The co-captain has made three
consecutive appearances on the MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist list
and is the first Harvard player to be voted a finalist for the
Hermann Trophy.
Bone, a junior midfielder from Plano, Texas, scored two goals and added 13 assists for 17 points, earning ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors. He notched an assist in Wake's 2-0 NCAA quarterfinal victory over UCLA to help the Demon Deacons advance to their fourth straight College Cup appearance.
The top-seeded Zips (23-0-0) are attempting to become the first
team in 35 years to win a nation championship with a perfect
record. UA will face fifth-seeded North Carolina (16-2-3) tonight
at 7:30 p.m. in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at WakeMed Soccer
Park in Cary, N.C. Fans can watch live on ESPNU or listen locally
on 1350 AM (WARF).
The MAC has
honored the top player in collegiate soccer since 1986. For a
complete list of past winners, go to www.mac-hermann-trophy.org. An exhibition
featuring the current and past recipients of the MAC Hermann Trophy
is on display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta,
N.Y.
