Moutinho Named Top Drawer Soccer Freshman of the Year
Courtesy of Akron Sports Information
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron men's soccer freshman Joao Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal) was honored for his breakout 2017 campaign as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him the National Freshman of the Year.
Moutinho also earned TopDrawerSoccer.com Best XI Third-Team accolades, while fellow freshman Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) was tabbed to the Freshman Best XI second team.
Moutinho earlier became the 19th Akron player to capture first-team United Soccer Coaches accolades joining the likes of Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2009), Chad Barson (2012), Ford Brunner (1967), Teal Bunbury (2009), Scott Caldwell (2012), Matt English (1982), Fritz Kungl (1962), Yohann Mauger (2005), Ross McKenzie (2005), Darlington Nagbe (2010), George Nanchoff (1975, 1976), Louie Nanchoff (1976), Aodhan Quinn (2013), Richard Parkinsin (1970, 1971), Shaun Pendleton (1984, 1985), Kofi Sarkodie (2010), Simon Spelling (1983) and Steve Zakuani (2008). He was the lone freshman named to either the first- or second-team.
The United Soccer Coaches All-America citation was the 58th in the Zips' storied men's soccer history.
Moutinho also garnered Third-Team All-America honors when College Soccer News revealed its 2017 All-American teams on Dec. 10.
The 2017 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-MAC performer, Moutinho started all 24 games for the Zips this season and was a key playmaker for Akron totaling three goals and five assists. He has also contributed 19 shots on goal as part of 40 overall shots, totals that rank third on the squad.
Moutinho and Strachan joined en elite group of Zips to garner All-Freshman team accolades from TopDrawerSoccer.com joining Evan Bush (2005), Perry Kitchen (2010), Darren Mattocks (2010), David Meves (2009) Ossie Michalsen (2005), Adam Najem (2013) and Dillon Serna (2012).
