Akron's Bunbury Named Soccer America Player of the Year

It's the second year in a row an Akron player was named Player of the Year by the esteemed publication and only the third time a sophomore won the award, which was first handed out in 1984. Steve Zakuani, another sophomore, was the 2008 Player of the Year.

The only other sophomore to win SA's Player of the Year honors was Virginia's Claudio Reyna, who won the first of back-to-back awards in 1992.

After netting six goals as a true freshman last season, Bunbury, who is also the 2009 Mid-American Conference and Goal.com Player of the Year, was the most dangerous striker in the nation this fall.

The native of Prior Lake, Minn., led all Division I players with 17 goals in 2009 and personally dictated the outcome of nine UA victories. Of his 17 goals, five goals were game-winners while four of his five assists led to game-winning goals.

In all, he recorded at least one point 16 times in 25 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, Bunbury totaled a team-high 39 points while starting every game for the nation's No. 1 ranked attacking unit. Moreover, against teams that made the NCAA Tournament, he registered 10 points - averaging more than a point per game - during the regular season.

In addition to his player of the year honors from the MAC and Goal.com, Bunbury was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Season (First Team). He was named National Player of the Week by College Soccer News on Nov. 3 and earned a spot on multiple national teams of the week by Top Drawer Soccer (Sept. 21, Nov. 3) and College Soccer News (Nov. 3).

Bunbury is one of three finalists this year for the prestigious Hermann Trophy award; considered the highest individual honor in intercollege soccer. The winner will be announced on Jan. 8 at the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis, Mo.

SOCCER AMERICA MEN'S PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2009 -- Teal Bunbury, Akron
2008 -- Steve Zakuani, Akron
2007 -- O'Brian White, Connecticut
2006 -- Joseph Lapira, Notre Dame
2005 -- Jason Garey, Maryland
2004 -- Ryan Pore, Tulsa
2003 -- Joseph Ngwenya, Coastal Carolina
2002 -- Alecko Eskandarian, Virginia
2001 -- Luchi Gonzalez, SMU
2000 -- Chris Gbandi, Connecticut
1999 -- Aleksey Korol, Indiana
1998 -- Wojtek Krakowiak, Clemson
1997 -- Ben Olsen, Virginia
1996 -- Johnny Torres, Creighton
1995 -- Mike Fisher, Virginia
1994 -- A.J. Wood, Virginia
1993 -- Claudio Reyna, Virginia
1992 -- Claudio Reyna, Virginia
1987-91 -- No winner announced
1986 -- Paul Caligiuri, UCLA, John Kerr, Duke
1985 -- Michael Brady, American
1984 -- Paul DiBernardo, Indiana