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Alumni Profile: Akira Fitzgerald
Former Loyola Blakefield goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald had some big shoes to fill heading into his junior year at Wake Forest University. He spent his first two seasons playing behind and learning from goalkeeper Brian Edwards, who was rock solid in the net for the Demon Deacons.
But, Fitzgerald knew that with Edwards graduating after the 2007 season he would have an excellent chance to take over the starting spot.
With Edwards leading the way, the 2007 Demon Deacons won the Men's Soccer NCAA championship beating Ohio State 2-1, capping off an unbelievable season in which they went 22-2-2.
The Most Outstanding Defensive Player of that tournament was none other than Edwards. So when Fitzgerald earned the starting nod this preseason, there was no room for a letdown and the pressure to perform well was certainly high.
But he must have been paying attention to what Edwards was doing because this season has been anything but a letdown for Fitzgerald and the Demon Deacons. They are currently undefeated, boasting a 16-0-1 overall record and a 6-0-1 conference record, which is good for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Fitzgerald has certainly played an important role in his team's success, already posting 10 shutouts on the season. Through the first 17 games of the season, his goals against average is a measly 0.59, which is currently tops among all ACC goalkeepers.
Fitzgerald's great play has been recognized not only by his teammates and coaches but also by the conference. Earlier this season, he was recently named ACC Co-Player of the Week after recording a pair of shut outs against UNC Greensboro and Duke.
Before Fitzgerald was a member of the defending national champions, he was a standout goalkeeper for Loyola Blakefield. He lettered all four years and as a senior earned Maryland Player of the Year as well as Baltimore Player of the Year. He was also named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Fitzgerald's story at Wake Forest is one of patience. He did not enter a game during his first fall season as a freshman. In his sophomore year, he saw time in three games, putting up a 0.68 goals-against average over 264 minutes. And then Edwards graduated and Fitzgerald came out on fire for his junior year. His exceptional play thus far this season put to rest any questions of whether or not he could be the No. 1 guy in the net.
If Fitzgerald can maintain his solid play for the remainder of the season his Demon Deacons may be in good position to repeat as national champions.
Posted November 4, 2008
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