Andre Akpan
Encyclopedia
Andre Akpan is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids
in Major League Soccer
.
to a Nigeria
n father and an American mother. He played for coaches Hassan Nazari
and David Hudgell on the '88 Dallas Texans
, and his prolific scoring touch helped lead his team to back-to-back-to-back USYSA National Championships (U17, U18, U19), as well as a Dallas Cup Super Group Victory - a feat that no other American team has accomplished in the last 25 years. He played high school soccer at The Oakridge School
in Arlington, Texas
where he was the all-time leading scorer with 111 goals over four years. He also attained the single-season scoring record with 37 goals.
In 2006, Akpan entered Harvard University
where he played on the men's soccer team, and was also a member of the The Phoenix – S K Club. He was the 2006 Ivy League rookie of the year and first team All Ivy League. In 2007, he was a second team NSCAA All American. While at Harvard he also made appearances for USL Premier Development League
clubs Westchester Flames
and Chicago Fire Premier
, helping the latter to the 2009 USL PDL championship game, and scoring in the final.
by Colorado Rapids
. He made his professional debut on April 13, 2010, in a US Open Cup game against the Kansas City Wizards
. His first MLS goal was scored on April 30, 2011 against the Chicago Fire equalizing just after halftime.
Akpan made a short-term loan switch to USL Second Division
club Real Maryland Monarchs
in June 2010, where he made one league appearance and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
appearance. Akpan made his second short-term loan switch of the season to USSF D-2 club FC Tampa Bay in July 2010.
U-20 team for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
. He scored a hat trick in qualifying and appeared in the quarterfinals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and college
Akpan was born in Grand Prairie, TexasGrand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
to a Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n father and an American mother. He played for coaches Hassan Nazari
Hassan Nazari
Hassan Nazari is a retired Iranian footballer. He usually played as a defender.-Playing career:He began his career in his hometown of Abadan, playing for clubs like 'Sepah Abadan' and Sanat Naft. His good play got him a transfer to one of Iranian football's better teams, Taj. There he could win...
and David Hudgell on the '88 Dallas Texans
Dallas Texans
-American football:*Dallas Texans , 1952 team in the National Football League*Dallas Texans , 1960–1962 team that is now the Kansas City Chiefs*Dallas Texans , 1990–1993 Arena Football League team-Ice hockey:...
, and his prolific scoring touch helped lead his team to back-to-back-to-back USYSA National Championships (U17, U18, U19), as well as a Dallas Cup Super Group Victory - a feat that no other American team has accomplished in the last 25 years. He played high school soccer at The Oakridge School
The Oakridge School
The Oakridge School is a private school located in Arlington, Texas, USA .It educates about 880 students in age groups Pre-K-12.-History:The Oakridge School is a coeducational, college preparatory school. The 2009–2010 enrollment totals 875 students in preschool through grade 12...
in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
where he was the all-time leading scorer with 111 goals over four years. He also attained the single-season scoring record with 37 goals.
In 2006, Akpan entered Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he played on the men's soccer team, and was also a member of the The Phoenix – S K Club. He was the 2006 Ivy League rookie of the year and first team All Ivy League. In 2007, he was a second team NSCAA All American. While at Harvard he also made appearances for USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
clubs Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames
Westchester Flames is an American soccer team based in New Rochelle, New York, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home games...
and Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at...
, helping the latter to the 2009 USL PDL championship game, and scoring in the final.
Professional
Akpan was drafted in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft2010 MLS SuperDraft
The 2010 MLS SuperDraft was the eleventh annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 14, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 2010 NSCAA Convention. The 2010 SuperDraft consisted of four rounds with sixteen selections each, for a total of 64 players...
by Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
. He made his professional debut on April 13, 2010, in a US Open Cup game against the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. His first MLS goal was scored on April 30, 2011 against the Chicago Fire equalizing just after halftime.
Akpan made a short-term loan switch to USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
club Real Maryland Monarchs
Real Maryland Monarchs
Real Maryland F.C., commonly known as the Real Maryland Monarchs, is an American soccer team based in Rockville, Maryland, United States...
in June 2010, where he made one league appearance and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
appearance. Akpan made his second short-term loan switch of the season to USSF D-2 club FC Tampa Bay in July 2010.
International
Akpan was a member of the United StatesUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
U-20 team for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
. He scored a hat trick in qualifying and appeared in the quarterfinals.