I could write an entire column on Akpan’s achievements; instead I’ll just say this: 11 goals, six assists, 4.0 shots per game (all, of course, tops in the league). Better pack your things now for St. Louis (home of the Hermann Trophy presentation); it might also be a good idea to prepare for the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. Mkosana, second in the league with eight goals, built upon his Rookie of the Year campaign last season with 19 points and will be one of the top contenders for Player of the Year next season. His successor for Rookie of the Year, Brian Rogers, delivered an impressive inaugural season, augmenting Akpan’s contributions with six goals and five assists of his own. Fears of a Crimson decline after Akpan graduates should be subdued with the impressive play of a strong Harvard rookie class.

Honorable Mentions: midfielder Adam Rousmaniere, midfielder Brian Grimm (Harvard); defender Mark Linnville, forward Matt Sanner (Princeton); goalkeeper Paul Grandstand (Brown); midfielder Craig Henderson (Dartmouth); forward Matt Bouraee (Cornell)

Weekend Predictions

Boston College 3, Dartmouth 1

The Big Green eliminated the Eagles in a penalty shootout thriller last season en route to a quarterfinal appearance but I’m afraid the Hanover squad won’t be so lucky this time around. Dartmouth fell apart at the end of the season, losing four of its last six games, including a 3-0 loss against Brown. It was a surprising decline given its attacking options. The only hope: Boston College has lost both its games against Ivy League opponents this season (Harvard, 2-0 and Yale, 2-1).

Prediction: Princeton 2, Bucknell 1

The Tigers certainly deserve to still be playing given their play at season’s end and they impressed the NCAA committee enough to earn themselves a home game in the first round. The Bison haven’t played anyone of note this season but enter the tournament as Patriot League champions. Given the momentum Princeton enters the tournament with, I think it’ll get an easy result here. No. 2 Virginia looms ahead in the second round.

Prediction: Brown 2, Stony Brook 0

The Bears find themselves on the same side of the bracket as Dartmouth, but both teams will need to make the quarterfinals to face off. While the Big Green’s prospects look dour, Brown is hosting one of the two teams in the tournament with a sub-.500 record. The Seawolves have gone undefeated in their last seven games but a staunch Brown defense will put an end to their run. For sake of comparison, Stony Brook lost 4-1 to Harvard earlier this season.

The Crimson’s fourth straight NCAA appearance comes with a long overdue bye into the second round. The committee gave no favors to Harvard, however; the Crimson’s two possible second round opponents are both ranked in the top 15. The No. 7 Monmouth Muhawks (what?) out of New Jersey have lost only once this season and have already defeated two Ivy League teams (Cornell, 4-1 and Princeton, 1-0). They host No. 12 Connecticut, who you’ll painfully remember as the team who ravaged Harvard 4-0 earlier this season. The Huskies were upset in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament, but despite having to travel to Monmouth, I believe they’re the favorites to play the Crimson on Sunday.

For a team that boasts arguably the greatest collection of Harvard talent since Chris Ohiri ’64 roamed the field, it would be a shame if the squad didn’t go far in the tournament. If the Crimon can make it past the first game on Sunday, I can see Harvard making a deep run (with No. 8 Maryland and No. 2 Virginia as the chief rivals to a quarterfinal berth).

Of course, I can only make educated guesses on the possible outcome of the Crimson’s season. Harvard will have to determine it for itself on the field.

Let the dances begin.

—Staff writer Mauricio A. Cruz can be reached at cruz2@fas.harvard.edu