AOTW: Frosh Emerges as Offensive Leader in Win Over Yale

There’s no better way to solidify your stature among Crimson faithful than scoring against Yale. And that’s what freshman soccer phenom André Akpan did, twice.

In what was unquestionably Harvard’s most crucial victory thus far, Akpan contributed to each of the Crimson’s three goals, raising his goal total to six and adding his sixth assist of the season—both totals lead the Ivy League.

His instrumental performance topping the Elis snapped a three game slide for Harvard (6-4-0, 1-1-0 Ivy).

In the Yale game, Akpan, a striker with the soccer skills and savvy of a senior, recapitulated his season-opening performance against highly-touted Old Dominion. He has not looked back since.

“It would be tough to get a better start than André did,” Crimson coach John Kerr said. “But it’s not like he’s dropped off, he’s gotten better as the team’s gotten better—he’s gotten better because the team’s gotten better.”

Indeed, Akpan credits much of his success to his teammates.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support from the team,” Akpan said. “The system we have as a team is really conducive to me getting the ball a lot.”

But humility aside, having the ball in a position to produce does not guarantee the incredible point production that Akpan has generated so far. Akpan’s composure under fire, in new situations, has allowed him to dazzle fans, coaches and teammates with his strong play.

In Harvard’s victory over Yale, he took a through pass from sophomore midfielder John Stamatis and dropped it smoothly into the right corner, beyond the Eli goalie’s reach.

“John and André read each other really well,” Kerr said. “John was a striker like André, so he understands where Andre’s running and where he wants the ball. You can see the telepathic sparks flying between them when they’re playing together.”

Akpan’s skills make him a tough cover, but when his savvy comes into play, he becomes a threat that has, to date, proved impossible to contain.

“André knows holes, he understands where to be when the ball comes across the box and he creates angles for himself,” Kerr said.

Akpan became the player he is during four years with the Dallas Texans club team, in which Akpan helped produce two national championships, and hardened his soccer wits through numerous trials-by-fire.

Akpan’s Crimson teammates hope to keep him and his fellow freshman playing at the high level they have already established throughout the season, even as the academic and social burdens of being a freshman begin to mount.

“[The freshmen] have worked for everything they’ve gotten this year,” captain Charles Altchek said. “Now the older guys have to help the young guys stay focused, so we can do great things.”

For Akpan, just ten games into his career, accolades already abound. The first-year was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week on Monday by the league office in recognition of his outstanding play versus Yale, the second time he has been thus honored on the young campaign.

But the expectations and admiration of his teammates surpass those by far.

“The second he starts to loose focus, it’ll be a problem for us,” Altchek said. “We want [Akpan] to stay hungry. He has all the tools, so for him being truly great is just a question of how much he wants it.”

—JONATHAN B. STEINMAN