The University of Akron Athletics
Sarkodie Named Soccer America's Player of the Year
December 24 | Men's Soccer
University of Akron junior defender Kofi
Sarkodie was named Player of the Year by Soccer
America Friday. It is the third consecutive season an Akron
player has received the esteemed award from the national
publication.
It is also the third significant recognition Sarkodie has received
following the Zips' national championship season. The native of
Huber Heights and Hermann Trophy semifinalist was named the 2010
ESPN Academic All-American of the Year as well as an NSCAA First
Team All-American previously. Sarkodie follows Teal
Bunbury (2009) and Steve
Zakuani (2008) as the only players in school history to win
player of the year honors from Soccer America.
As one of the most dynamic players in the country, Sarkodie
recorded a career-high eight goals and six assists in 22 games from
his outside back position.
In all, he finished with five game-winning goals, which was the
second-highest total on the team. Sarkodie led the Zips to the
national championship game with a header in the 74th minute to
defeat Michigan in the NCAA semifinal (Dec. 10) after recording his
first career hat trick against the Wolverines in a 7-1 rout during
the regular season (Oct. 19).
Sarkodie also netted the decisive blow in a penalty-kick shootout
against Cal in the NCAA quarterfinals (Dec. 4) to advance UA to the
College Cup for the second consecutive year. Akron (22-1-2)
captured the first team national championship in any sport with a
1-0 victory over Louisville in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Dec.
12.
Ampaipitakwong, Nagbe Also Recognized
Sarkodie was joined by senior midfielder Anthony
Ampaipitakwong and junior striker Darlington
Nagbe on the Soccer America's MVP First Team. UA's
three honorees were the most by any school.
Ampaipitakwong is a two-time NSCAA All-American and became the
school's first winner of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in 2010. The
award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men's soccer
coaches, national soccer media and fans, is given annually to the
most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's
soccer. The native of Carrollton, Texas, was named to the
All-Mid-American Conference First Team all four years at UA and was
a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy in each of the last two
seasons. Ampaipitakwong is the Zips' all-time leader for games
played (93) and finished his career with 17 goals and 30
assists.
Nagbe, who is one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy, is
another two-time NSCAA All-American after earning first-team
recognition in 2010. The native of Lakewood, Ohio, paced Akron's
vaunted attack with a career-high 13 assists, which was ranked 10th
among all Division players. Moreover, of his 13 assists, six set up
game-winning goals, including helpers against Wake Forest (Sept.
3), Cal State Northridge (Sept. 17), Oakland (Oct. 6), Michigan
(Oct. 19), Michigan State (Nov. 3) and West Virginia (Nov. 21).
Nagbe also netted a pair of game-winning goals himself with the
decisive strike in a pair of big wins against No. 9 Creighton (Oct.
27) and Western Michigan (Nov. 14) in the MAC Tournament
championship game. In all, Nagbe netted seven goals on the year
while starting all 25 games up top for UA.
Soccer America's MVPs were introduced in 1976 and honor
the players who have had the biggest impact on their team's success
regardless of position.
Kitchen, Mattocks Garner Freshman Honors
Soccer America also named midfielder Perry
Kitchen and striker Darren
Mattocks to its All-Freshman First Team Friday. The Zips were
the only school in the country to land two players on the first
team.
Kitchen, who was recently called into the January U.S. U-20
national team camp, appeared in all 25 games as the Zips' starting
defensive midfielder. The native of Indianapolis finished with six
goals - including the game-winning strike against Cal State
Northridge (Sept. 17) - and one assist in 2010. Kitchen was
particularly dangerous in the postseason with beautiful, long-range
goals against Cal in the NCAA quarterfinal (Dec. 4) and against
Michigan at the College Cup (Dec. 10).
Mattocks developed into one of the most feared strikers in the
country with a team-high 18 goals, which was tied for the
third-highest total in the nation. The Jamaican native scored
multiple goals in four contests in 2010 while netting his first hat
trick in a 4-0 win over Buffalo (Oct. 16). Mattocks was the second
highest scoring freshman in the country (Michigan's Soony Saad had
19) with a team-leading six game-winning goals. He also finished
with five assists and was ranked 13th for points-per-game average
nationally (1.64).
