Bunbury named Men’s Player of the Year

Akron’s Bunbury is Men’s Player of the Year
by Paul Kennedy, Friday, Dec 18, 2009 8:45 AM ET

[SOCCER AMERICA AWARDS]  Akron sophomore Teal Bunbury, who led the nation with 17 goals, earned 2009 Soccer America Player of the Year honors. It’s the second year in a row an Akron player was named Player of the Year 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.

Bunbury is the son of former Canada international Alex Bunbury, who spent seven seasons at Portuguese club Maritimo before finishing up his career with MLS’s Kansas City Wizards. Alex says his son is more of a natural goalscorer than he was.

Teal Bunbury, a product of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Minn.) High School’s soccer program, headed the nation’s most potent attack (2.32 goals a game). Five of his goals were game-winners, and four of his five assists set up winning goals.

Zakuani, who also led the nation in goals in 2008, signed as the No. 1 pick in the MLS SuperDraft with the Seattle Sounders.

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

2009 Soccer America Men’s Player of the Year
Teal Bunbury, Akron
Position: Forward. Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Prior Lake, Minn.
High School: Shattuck-St. Mary’s High School
Club: Shattuck-St. Mary’s High School