CARY, N.C. – University of Akron sophomore Teal Bunbury is one of three finalists for the 2009 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the organization announced Friday.

It is the second consecutive year an Akron player has been named a finalist for what is considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer as current Major League Soccer star Steve Zakuani finished first runner-up in 2008. Joining Bunbury on the prestigious list are Andre Akpan from Harvard and Corben Bone from Wake Forest.

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).

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.

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

The native of Prior Lake, Minn., enters this weekend's College Cup as the nation's leader in goals scored with 17 on the campaign. Of his 17 goals, five have been game-winners while four of his five assists have led to game-winning goals.

In all, he has recorded at least one point 16 times in 23 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 has totaled a team-high 39 points while starting every game this season for the nation's No. 1 ranked attacking unit. Moreover, against teams that made the NCAA Tournament this regular season, he registered 10 points – averaging more than a point per game.

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).

Were he to win, Bunbury would be just the third sophomore ever to do so. He and Zakuani are the only two players in Akron history to be finalists for the Hermann Trophy.

Akpan, a senior forward from Grand Prairie, Texas, was the 2009 Ivy League Player of the Year and an All-Ivy League first team. This season he led the Crimson with 12 goals, including four game-winning tallies, and 30 points. The co-captain has made three consecutive appearances on the MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist list and is the first Harvard player to be voted a finalist for the 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.

The top-seeded Zips (23-0-0) are attempting to become the first team in 35 years to win a nation championship with a perfect record. UA will face fifth-seeded North Carolina (16-2-3) tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Fans can watch live on ESPNU or listen locally on 1350 AM (WARF).

The MAC has honored the top player in collegiate soccer since 1986. 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.