The University of Akron Athletics
UA Teammates Named Semifinalists for Hermann Trophy
December 03 | Men's Soccer
University of Akron junior Anthony Ampaipitakwong and
sophomore Teal Bunbury were among 15
semifinalists for the 2009
Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the highest individual
honor in intercollegiate soccer.
Overall, six
teams in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Elite Eight have a total
of eight players representing them. UA and Wake Forest lead the way
with two players each.
Division I college head coaches with current membership in the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) will vote to
determine the 2009 MAC Hermann Trophy recipient. Three finalists
for the award will be announced on Friday, Dec. 11 and will be
invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis for a news
conference on Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, where the winner will be
announced. Dinner and a formal presentation of the award will
follow the news conference that evening.
Ampaipitakwong, an NSCAA third team All-American in 2008, has
started all 22 games this season for the Zips (22-0-0). He has been
UA's driving force on the attack with three goals in two NCAA
Tournament games - including the game-winner against South Florida
in the second round - entering Saturday's quarterfinal match-up
with eighth-seeded Tulsa.
In all, the midfielder from Carrollton, Texas, has netted eight
goals to go with five assists for 36 points - ranking third on the
team - on the year. On top of that, half of his goals have been
game-winners. He is a three-time All-Mid-American Conference First
Team honoree.
After a strong freshman campaign, Bunbury has blossomed into the
nation's most dangerous goal scorer in 2009. The reigning MAC
Player of the Year, who leads the country with 17 goals on the
season, has dictated the outcome of nine UA wins alone with five
game-winning goals and four assists that led to game-winners.
In all, he has recorded at least one point 16 times in 22 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,
the striker from Prior Lake, Minn., has totaled a team-high 39
points while starting every game this season.
His header against Stanford last weekend proved to be the
difference in leading the Zips to the third NCAA quarterfinal
appearance in school history. UA is attempting to become the
first team in 35 years to win a national championship and is
currently riding the second longest, single-season win streak in
NCAA history.
Both players have been key factors in the nation's No. 1 attack. As
a team, the Zips are averaging 2.59 goals per contest, which is the
highest mark among 203 Division I programs.
It is the second consecutive year Akron has been represented on the
Hermann Trophy semifinalist list. Current professional star Steve
Zakuani was named first runner up a year ago before becoming
the No. 1 overall draft pick of the MLS SuperDraft.
Representing the Demon Deacons are a pair of juniors, midfielder
Corben Bone and defender Ike Opara. Rounding out the list
of players from Elite Eight teams are Zach Loyd (North Carolina),
Kyle Nakazawa (UCLA), Tony Tchani (Virginia) and Garrett Webb
(Drake). Harvard senior forward Andre Akpan makes his third
appearance among the semifinalists.
2009 M.A.C.
Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
Andre Akpan, F, Sr., Harvard, Grand Prairie, Texas
Anthony Ampaipitakwong, M,
Jr., Akron, Carrollton, Texas
Corben Bone, M, Jr., Wake Forest, Plano, Texas
Teal Bunbury, F, So., Akron,
Prior Lake, Minn.
Ryan Kinne, M, Jr., Monmouth, Naugatuck, Conn.
Zach Loyd, D, Sr., North Carolina, Verdigris, Okla.
Danny Mwanga, F, So., Oregon State, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic
of Congo
Kyle Nakazawa, F, Sr., UCLA, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
Conor O'Brien, M, Sr., Bucknell, Mt. Sinai, N.Y.
Ike Opara, D, Jr., Wake Forest, Durham, N.C.
Colin Rolfe, F, So., Louisville, Canton, Mich.
Toni Stahl, M, Sr., Connecticut, Tuusula, Finland
Tony Tchani, M, So., Virginia, Norfolk, Va.
Bobby Warshaw, M, Jr., Stanford, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Garrett Webb, F, Sr., Drake, Prairie Village, Kan.
