Akpan, Rogers Take Home Soccer America Honors

Pictured: Andre Akpan (left), the Ivy League Player of the Year, and Brian Rogers, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Photo courtesy: David Silverman Photography

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Forwards Andre Akpan and Brian Rogers of the Harvard men's soccer team have been honored by Soccer America with postseason distinction, the publication announced Friday.  Akpan was tabbed to the 2009 Soccer America MVPs first team, while Rogers earned a spot on the All-Freshman second team.

Akpan, a senior co-captain from Grand Prairie, Texas, is one of three finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, presented to the nation's top collegiate soccer play.  Akpan, Harvard's first finalist for the Hermann Award, was honored on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and College Soccer News All-America first team.  He was also honored on the NSCAA All-Northeast Region first team, as well as the Top Drawer Soccer National second team, and was an unanimous choice to the All-Ivy League first  team this fall.  Akpan, who garnered Ivy League Rookie of the Year status in 2006, capped his career as the Ivy League Player of the Year this season.

Harvard's all-time leading scorer with 127 points, Akpan also ranks first in program history with 33 assists and completes his career tied with Chris Ohiri '64 for first among all Crimson players with 47 goals.  In 2009, Akpan, a nominee for Soccer News Net Player of the Year, led Harvard and the Ivy League with 30 points and 12 goals.  He also handed out six assists and led the Crimson with four game-winning tallies.  Akpan was also honored on the ECAC Division I Men's All-Star Team and garned Academic All-Ivy League status.  He concludes his career as a four-time All-Ivy League choice and a three-time All-American.

Rogers, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year this season, was also honored on the NSCAA All-Northeast Region third team for his stellar effort as a freshman.  A native of Bronxville, N.Y., Rogers ranked second on the Crimson with 18 points, scoring six goals and handing out six assists.  A second-team All-Ivy pick, Rogers garnered three nods as the Ivy League Rookie of the Week this fall and began his career with a six-game scoring streak (Sept. 4-23).

Akpan, Rogers and the Crimson reached as high as No. 6 in the national rankings this year, as Harvard finisehd 14-4-1 overall.  The Crimson advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1987 and won its second Ivy League title in four years.