MetroFanatic: Andre, how does an Ivy League education (I'm Ivy League educated myself)...
Andre Akpan: Oh yeah, where did you got to school?

MF: Cornell, it's the Harvard of Upstate New York. How does it prepare you for a career in professional soccer?
AA: It's a good question. I haven't been asked that one. I guess, just high pressure situations, that would be the best thing. Can't say that there is a ton of things in common between the Ivy League and pro soccer.

MF: Your classmates are currently making probably millions of dollars, in some cases, and you're not exactly breaking the bank here.
AA: (laughs) That's part of what happens when you follow your dream, you don't go into things most of your classmates ended up in. I'm enjoying it, so I can't complain.

MF: Staying on the topic of Harvard, I want to show you something... let's hope there is an Internet connection here... There we go.
AA: Oh, WOW. You did some research! (Santiago Castano and Ian Christianson laughing) Ugh... ummm...

MF: Speechless!
AA: You're looking for some explanation there...

MF: Yes, yes!
AA: My senior year, they did 15 most interesting seniors at Harvard. We had to dress up in some crazy outfits. It was fun. You don't see in that picture, there was a bigger backdrop that they had for the newspaper. That shot alone doesn't do it justice. (laughs)

MF: Last year you didn't play much, do you think that will change?
AA: Yeah, obviously every year you want to push and play more and more. With the competitions and the need to rotate the squad, there will be some more opportunities.

MF: The forward corps are pretty small, after Titi, Bradley and you...
AA: Right, there are not many pure strikers on the team, so there will be opportunities to be had, that's for sure.

MF: Let's talk about your glorious moment, four goals in one reserve game!
AA: (laughs) Yeah... it was a good day. I'd love to translate that into the first team.