With a stellar performance to close out his senior season, including four goals in his last four matches as a Wildcat, senior Chris Akwaja has earned Wildcat of the Week honors.
Akwaja, one of the program’s most dangerous strikers in recent memory, got the Wildcats off to a great start by scoring the first goal of the match in their NCAA Championship opener against Cal State L.A. Thursday. Akwaja’s goal came off of a cleared corner kick that found its way to freshman Octavio Guzman. Guzman crossed the ball to the far post where Akwaja had beat his defender. He headed the ball out of the reach of the keeper and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
The goal was the 21st of Akwaja’s illustrious career.
Akwaja was one of only six players to play in all 21 matches in this, his senior season. He started 20 of those.
He earned First Team All-CCAA and First Team All-West Region honors in 2010 while helping lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Championship Tournament West Region title. He ranked second on the team in goals (nine) and points (20).
Akwaja helped the Wildcats finish with a 13-4-4 mark, giving them their best winning percentage since 2003 and the second best in more than 20 seasons. Akwaja and his teammates who were part of last season’s success as well can boast the program’s most wins over a two-year period (28) in 30 years, along with consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division titles and NCAA Championship Tournament berths.
The Wildcats will look to build on the foundation that Akwaja and his other senior teammates have left starting August 2012. Until then, they’ll be savoring the taste of the NCAA tournament that was all too short , but sweet.
