• Led NCAA Division I in scoring with 20 goals in 2008
• Soccer America 2008 Player of the Year and Hermann Award finalist
• Coach Sigi Schmid: "Steve’s got speed, a good change of pace. He’s clever and a good dribbler."

College

2008: Led the nation in goals (20) and points (47) while appearing in all 23 games for the Zips. Both goal and point totals ranked fifth on the school’s single season list and was one of three Hermann Trophy finalists. First Akron player and just the second sophomore overall to be named Soccer America Player of the Year. Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Year, NSCAA/adidas All-America and All-Great Lakes Region First Team honoree. Soccer America First Team All-American, College Soccer News First Team All-American and MAC Player of the Year. Forced to miss the only start of his college career due to an ankle injury in the MAC Tournament championship game versus Northern Illinois but responded by scoring the game-winning goal in double-overtime against the Huskies to give Akron its sixth league tournament title. Was one of a team-leading seven game-winning goals. Registered the first two hat tricks of his career against Northern Illinois (Oct. 4) and Wright State (Oct. 15). Was twice named Top Drawer Soccer’s National Player of the Week (Oct. 6, 10). Garnered MAC Player of the Week honors six times to set a new league record. 2007: As a freshman, College Soccer News All-Freshman team honoree and Mid-American Conference Newcomer of the Year. Also a first team All-MAC and first team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region performer. Paced the Zips with six goals, three game-winners and added a pair of assists for a team-high 14 points. First career goal was a game-winner in a 1-0 defeat of UAB (Sept. 2).

Club/High School

Prior to Akron, played with the Arsenal youth team until age 14 (1997-2002). Played at the Independent Football Academy in London, England, from 2004-07. Attended Gladesmore Community School.

Parents are Mao and Cecile Zakuani. Was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has five siblings: Angela, Gabriel, Sosthene, Admira and Claudia. Older brother Gabriel plays for Peterborough United FC in League One. Enjoys reading and watching sports in his spare time. Lists his biggest athletic thrill as playing in Tillburg tournament in Holland at age 14 with the Arsenal youth team. Majored in sport management.