The Ivy League Player of the Year, the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and Mid-American Conference Player of the Year comprise the three finalists for the 2009 Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy, the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer. The finalists were determined in voting by Division I men's soccer coaches who are members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Andre Akpan from Harvard, Corben Bone from Wake Forest and Teal Bunbury from Akron are the three finalists for the award. The trio will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis on Friday, Jan. 8, for a news conference, where the winner of the award will be revealed (approximately 7 p.m. EST). A banquet at the Club that evening will feature the formal presentation of the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy to the winner.

Akpan, a senior forward from Grand Prairie, Texas, was the 2009 Ivy League Player of the Year and a unanimous choice to the All-Ivy League first team. This season he led the Crimson with 12 goals, including four game-winning tallies, and 30 points. Harvard’s co-captain also excelled in the classroom, where he was an Academic All-Ivy League selection. Akpan concluded his career as Harvard’s all-time leading scorer. He has made three consecutive appearances on the MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist list. Akpan is the first Harvard player to be voted a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.

Bone, a junior midfielder from Plano, Texas, scored two goals and added 13 assists for 17 points, earning ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors. He notched an assist in Wake’s 2-0 NCAA quarterfinal victory over UCLA to help the Demon Deacons advance to their fourth straight College Cup appearance. Last season, Bone led the nation in assists and was teammates with 2008 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Marcus Tracy. In 2007, he was named the ACC Freshman of the Year. Bone ranks second on Wake’s career assists list with 38.

Bunbury, a sophomore forward from Prior Lake, Minn., was the 2009 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. He led the nation in goals with 17, including five game-winners, and added five assists to lead the team with 39 points. Bunbury has led top-seeded Akron into the College Cup with a perfect 23-0 record as the Zips attempt to become the first team in 35 years to win a national championship with an undefeated record. He is the second consecutive Akron player to be voted a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, following 2008 runner-up Steve Zakuani.

The MAC has honored the top player in collegiate soccer since 1986. Some of the biggest names in soccer, such as Mia Hamm and Claudio Reyna, have won the award. For a complete list of past winners, go to www.mac-hermann-trophy.org. An exhibition featuring the current and past recipients of the MAC Hermann Trophy is on display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y.

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