Student-Athlete of the Week - September 22, 2008

Name: Hiroki Akiyama
Sport: Men's Soccer
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder

Hiroki Akiyama has been named the Spartan Foundation Athlete of the Week for his performances last week for the San Jose State men's soccer team. 

Hiroki Akiyama provided one goal and one assist for three total points in helping San Jose State to an undefeated record of 1-0-1 at home against tough Far West Region foes last week. The fourth-year senior started both matches, a 2-2 double-overtime tie with Cal Poly on Thursday, September 18, and a 2-1 victory over Seattle on Sunday, September 21. He played all 200 minutes and provided a pair of deft touches to help improve the Spartans' overall season mark to 3-1-2.

Against Cal Poly, Akiyama's perfectly-weighted lob pass over the top of the defense was latched onto by junior teammate Nick Cukar and slammed home to give San Jose State a 1-0 advantage at the 12:55 mark. The Spartans later tied the match on a penalty-kick goal with 59 seconds remaining in regulation and wound up with the draw. Akiyama's long-range pass found Cukar in the penalty area, with Cukar in turn getting the ball to junior teammate Stephen Cordova. Cordova's header was slapped down by the Mustang defender and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Against Seattle, the native of Japan opened the scoring with a rare, beautifully-executed bicycle kick at 33:15. An initial shot by a Spartan teammate was saved by the Redhawk goalie, with a follow-up attempt by Cordova deflected off a defender toward Akiyama at the edge of the six-yard box. With only one chance to direct the ball on goal, the senior tri-captain instinctively went with a bicycle kick, knocking his shot off the right post and in past the helpless Seattle goalie. He wound up with three shots in the match.

The goal was Akiyama's second this season and seventh of his career. The assist was his second of 2008 and fifth of his career. Akiyama has played in 55 consecutive matches dating back to his debut as a freshman in 2005, with 43 straight starts.

San Jose State travels to Santa Clara this Wednesday, September 24, for a Rivalry Series meeting at 7p.m..  The team then plays at Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday, September 28, at 1 p.m.

Past 2008-09 Spartan Foundation Student-Athletes of the Week
August 25 - Emmy Belding, Women's Soccer
September 2 - Kyle Reed, Football
September 8 - Emily Burke, Volleyball
September 15 - Erica Moston, Women's Golf
September 22 - Hiroki Akiyama, Men's Soccer