Word: soccering
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However, for rookie soccer standout Andre Akpan, that change was not in the form of a snazzy internship or much-needed relaxation. Instead, the Grand Prairie, Texas native used the summer to hone his soccer skills in the presence of the greatest young players in the country, both on the national- and club-team levels...
Akpan broke onto the national soccer scene last winter as part of the United States’ U-20 team for the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament in Panama. There, he helped to earn his team a bid to the FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring a remarkable hat trick against Haiti...
...Akpan, this meant not only playing against the up-and-coming stars of international soccer, but also playing with a new caliber of athletes. “It’s a whole ’nother level—you’re playing against the next group of the best players in the world,” Akpan said. “You can’t do anything but learn, and I felt like I got better every practice...
Akpan called the event his greatest moment of the summer, saying it helped him win the respect of his teammates and avid soccer fans world-wide. “I proved myself a little bit on the field,” Akpan said of the game. He also noted his ability to overcome the nerves and general intimidation factor that is associated with such a high-stakes moment in a tournament elimination round...
...Once you step on the field in games, it’s exhilarating,” Akpan added. As if becoming one of only seven collegiate players on a team composed highly of professional international soccer stars wasn’t enough, Akpan added another notch to his belt during the latter part of the summer, when he made a quick transition from the U-20 World Cup team to his home club team, the Dallas Texans 88 Red.Even after missing the beginning of the season, Akpan led his team to the James P. McGuire Cup and the youth national...