Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography

AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron junior Anthony Ampaipitakwong has been named to the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List for 2009. The All-American midfielder becomes the second Akron men's soccer player to be named to the list in as many years, following 2008 first runner-up Steve Zakuani.

Considered the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer, the recipients of the MAC's Hermann Trophy are selected by Division I head coaches who are current members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Ampaipitakwong is among 38 of the best men's Division I intercollegiate soccer players that comprise the 2009 Watch List.

Ampaipitakwong was the only player from the Mid-American Conference and one of 15 midfielders to make the exclusive list.

The Carrollton, Texas native was an NSCAA All-American third team honoree last season and a 2009 preseason All-American after starting all 23 games for the nation's 11th-ranked offense. He finished fourth on the team with five assists while finding the net himself four times - including the game-winner in a victory over Michigan at Lee Jackson Field - as UA netted 47 goals as a team; its second-highest total since 1999.

The former College Soccer News Freshman All-American (2007) was one of several prize recruits in head coach Caleb Porter's first class, which was ranked No. 5 in the nation.

Ampaipitakwong burst onto the scene as a first-year player, scoring the game-winning goal in his first collegiate contest, a 3-1 decision over New Mexico. The early success was a sign of things to come as the playmaker went on to post six assists over a three-game span, including three in a win at Wright State. It was the second highest, single-game assist total recorded by a Division I player in 2007 and third-highest in school history.

In all, Ampaipitakwong finished the year with nine assists, which led the team, to go along with two goals, including the game-winner in Akron's double-overtime victory against Buffalo in the MAC Championship game. His 0.43 assists-per-game average was the 32nd-highest mark in the nation and first among all freshmen.

A list of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy will be selected by a coaches committee in November, with three finalists announced in early December. They will invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., for a news conference on Jan. 8, 2010, where the winner will be announced, with a presentation banquet following.