Akron Zips' Kofi Sarkodie named men's soccer player of the year

The trophy case is becoming 'hardware central' for Akron's national championship soccer team as junior defender Kofi Sarkodie on Friday was named Player of the Year by Soccer America. It is the third consecutive season an Akron player has received the esteemed award from the national publication, joining Teal Bunbury in 2009 and Steve Zakuani in 2008. It's the...

The trophy case is becoming 'hardware central' for Akron's national championship soccer team as junior defender Kofi Sarkodie on Friday was named Player of the Year by Soccer America.

It is the third consecutive season an Akron player has received the esteemed award from the national publication, joining Teal Bunbury in 2009 and Steve Zakuani in 2008.

It's the third piece of hardware Sarkodie earned this season. The native of suburban Dayton, and Hermann Trophy semifinalist, was named the 2010 ESPN Academic All-American of the Year; and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) First Team All-American.

View full sizeMark J. Terrill / AP Kofi Sarkodie, Soccer America's men's soccer player of the year, helped the Zips win the NCAA championship earlier this month.

Sarkodie scored a career-high eight goals in 22 games this past season and had six assists from his outside back position. He was second on the Zips with five game-winning goals.

Teammates Anthony Ampaipitakwong (senior midfielder) and Darlington Nagbe (junior striker), a St. Edward grad, joined Sarkodie on Soccer America's MVP First Team. 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 CLASS Award is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's soccer as chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men's soccer coaches, national soccer media and fans.

Nagbe is one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy, the Heisman Trophy of college soccer, and is a two-time NSCAA All-American.

Soccer America named freshman midfielder Perry Kitchen and freshman striker Darren Mattocks to its All-Freshman First Team.