Akpan Honored as New England Soccer News Player of the Year

Pictured: Andre Akpan scored 47 goals and handed out 33 assists during his career with the Crimson.
Photo courtesy: David Silverman Photography

Complete New England Soccer News Release

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Two days after being named to the College Soccer News Team of the Decade, senior Andre Akpan of the Harvard men's soccer team was tabbed the New England Soccer News Player of the Year.  Akpan is also a finalist for the Soccer News Network National Player of the Year, which will be announced next week.

Harvard's first finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, presented to the nation's top collegiate player, Akpan, a forward, concluded his career as a three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America selection.  The Ivy League Player of the Year this fall and the conference Rookie of the Year in 2006, Akpan garnered four unanimous nods to the All-Ivy League first team during his career with the Crimson.

Akpan led Harvard and the Ivy League with 30 points and 12 goals in 2009, as he helped the Crimson finish 14-4-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the Ivy League, en route to the conference title.  Akpan and the Crimson reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season, advancing to the third round. During the season, Harvard was ranked as high as No. 6 in the national polls and finished the year ranked ninth in both the College Soccer News and NSCAA national polls.

Akpan, who is expected to be selected in the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft Jan. 14, is Harvard's all-time leading scorer with 127 points. He also ranks first in school history with 33 assists and stands tied with Chris Ohiri '64 for first with 47 goals. 

A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, Akpan, a four-time NSCAA All-Northeast Region choice, was honored on the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Year, as well as the Soccer America MVPs first team this season.  Akpan also succeeded off the field, having earned a spot on the prestigous Academic All-Ivy League team in 2009.