Bowling Green State University Athletics
Anaya Named MAC Freshman of the Year
November 10, 2021 | Men's Soccer
Falcons Land Four on All-MAC Team
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>>> Alberto Anaya has been named MAC Freshman of the Year
>>> Â Zach Buescher earns All-MAC accolades for the third consecutive season
>>> Jacob Erlandson has been named to the all-league first team for the second time in as many seasons at BGSU
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Bowling Green State University men's soccer standout Alberto Anaya has been named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, while seniors Zach Buescher and Jacob Erlandson have been named to the All-MAC First Team.
The All-MAC Team and specialty-award winners were announced on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 10) by the league office.
Anaya and sophomore Joey Akpunonu each were named to the All-MAC Second-Team.
BGSU's total of four All-MAC Team honorees tied for the highest in the league.
Buescher has been named to the all-conference team for the third consecutive season. He earns first-team honors after being named to the All-MAC Second Team in both 2019 and 2020(-21).
Erlandson has been chosen to the All-MAC First Team for the second time in as many seasons with the Falcons.
Buescher, a native of Holland, Ohio (Toledo St. John's Jesuit), has been a mainstay in the midfield again this season. He has played in 16 of BGSU's matches to date, starting all 16, and has three assists on the year. Buescher has helped the Falcons record eight shutouts in those 16 contests. In his career, Buescher has played in 84 matches, starting them all, since arriving at BGSU. He has 10 career points on a goal and eight assists.
Erlandson, a native of Dayton, Ohio (Dayton Christian), is tied for the team scoring lead, with 14 points on the season. His five goals include a pair of game-winning goals, and he also has four assists on the campaign. The center back has been a key performer in those eight BGSU clean sheets this season. Erlandson has scored 22 points in 29 career matches with the Falcons, and four of his eight goals at BG have been game-winning markers. He has a pair of game-winning assists this season as well. Erlandson has played every second of each of BGSU's last seven matches.
Akpunonu, a native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), has started all 17 contests, and is second on the team in minutes played. He has been on the pitch for 1,596 of the 1,608 total minutes this fall. A defender who has helped the Falcons allow just 16 goals in those 17 matches, Akpunonu has also gotten forward to score a pair of goals, including one winner, this fall. He has a pair of assists – which came on the winning goal in back-to-back games – for a total of six points this season. Akpunonu has only come off the field in two matches - both with under 10 minutes to go, and both with BGSU leading by at least three goals.
Anaya, who hails from Queretaro, Mexico (ITESM Leon), is tied with Erlandson for the team scoring lead, with 14 points. Three of his five goals have proven to be the GWG, and he also has four assists on the year. He scored the winner in back-to-back road victories, vs. Gonzaga and Cleveland State, and also recorded the GWG against Oakland.Â
BGSU has an overall record of 10-4-3, and the Falcons finished MAC play with a 2-2-2 league ledger. BG qualified for the MAC Tournament, and the fourth-seeded Falcons will face top-seeded Northern Illinois on Thursday evening (Nov. 11), at 7:00 p.m. ET. at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
The BGSU-NIU survivor will advance to Sunday's (Nov. 14) league tourney championship match, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET in DeKalb.
The All-MAC Team and specialty awards can be found below...
2021 ALL-MAC TEAM AND SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nick Markanich, Northern Illinois
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Alberto Anaya, Bowling Green
GARY V. PALMISANO COACH OF THE YEAR
Ryan Swan, Northern Illinois
ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
Anthony Markanich, Northern Illinois, D
Jacob Erlandson, Bowling Green, DÂ
George Proctor, Georgia State, D
Nick Markanich, Northern Illinois, F
Diogo Pacheco, Akron, F
Adam Davie, Georgia Southern, F
Ryan Kingsford, Akron, F
Luke McCormick, West Virginia, M
Zach Buescher, Bowling Green, M
Pepe Martinez-Bertrand, Northern Illinois, M
Gunther Rankenburg, Georgia State, GK
Martin Sanchez, Northern Illinois, GK
ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
Joey Akpunonu, Bowling Green, D
Daniel Nimick, Western Michigan, D
Kevin Morris, West Virginia, DÂ
Malik Henry, Akron, D
Ciro Jaeggi Bourlot, West Virginia, F
Ethan Sassine, Georgia State, FÂ
Charlie Sharp, Western Michigan, F
Dyson Clapier, Akron, M
Ross Finnie, Georgia State, M
Alberto Anaya, Bowling Green, M
Dylan Sing, Western Michigan, MÂ
Steven Tekesky, West Virginia, GK
ÂGallery: (11-10-2021) M.Soccer All-MAC Team - Nov 10 2021
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>>> Alberto Anaya has been named MAC Freshman of the Year
>>> Â Zach Buescher earns All-MAC accolades for the third consecutive season
>>> Jacob Erlandson has been named to the all-league first team for the second time in as many seasons at BGSU
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Bowling Green State University men's soccer standout Alberto Anaya has been named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, while seniors Zach Buescher and Jacob Erlandson have been named to the All-MAC First Team.
The All-MAC Team and specialty-award winners were announced on Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 10) by the league office.
Anaya and sophomore Joey Akpunonu each were named to the All-MAC Second-Team.
BGSU's total of four All-MAC Team honorees tied for the highest in the league.
Buescher has been named to the all-conference team for the third consecutive season. He earns first-team honors after being named to the All-MAC Second Team in both 2019 and 2020(-21).
Erlandson has been chosen to the All-MAC First Team for the second time in as many seasons with the Falcons.
Buescher, a native of Holland, Ohio (Toledo St. John's Jesuit), has been a mainstay in the midfield again this season. He has played in 16 of BGSU's matches to date, starting all 16, and has three assists on the year. Buescher has helped the Falcons record eight shutouts in those 16 contests. In his career, Buescher has played in 84 matches, starting them all, since arriving at BGSU. He has 10 career points on a goal and eight assists.
Erlandson, a native of Dayton, Ohio (Dayton Christian), is tied for the team scoring lead, with 14 points on the season. His five goals include a pair of game-winning goals, and he also has four assists on the campaign. The center back has been a key performer in those eight BGSU clean sheets this season. Erlandson has scored 22 points in 29 career matches with the Falcons, and four of his eight goals at BG have been game-winning markers. He has a pair of game-winning assists this season as well. Erlandson has played every second of each of BGSU's last seven matches.
Akpunonu, a native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), has started all 17 contests, and is second on the team in minutes played. He has been on the pitch for 1,596 of the 1,608 total minutes this fall. A defender who has helped the Falcons allow just 16 goals in those 17 matches, Akpunonu has also gotten forward to score a pair of goals, including one winner, this fall. He has a pair of assists – which came on the winning goal in back-to-back games – for a total of six points this season. Akpunonu has only come off the field in two matches - both with under 10 minutes to go, and both with BGSU leading by at least three goals.
Anaya, who hails from Queretaro, Mexico (ITESM Leon), is tied with Erlandson for the team scoring lead, with 14 points. Three of his five goals have proven to be the GWG, and he also has four assists on the year. He scored the winner in back-to-back road victories, vs. Gonzaga and Cleveland State, and also recorded the GWG against Oakland.Â
BGSU has an overall record of 10-4-3, and the Falcons finished MAC play with a 2-2-2 league ledger. BG qualified for the MAC Tournament, and the fourth-seeded Falcons will face top-seeded Northern Illinois on Thursday evening (Nov. 11), at 7:00 p.m. ET. at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
The BGSU-NIU survivor will advance to Sunday's (Nov. 14) league tourney championship match, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET in DeKalb.
The All-MAC Team and specialty awards can be found below...
2021 ALL-MAC TEAM AND SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nick Markanich, Northern Illinois
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Alberto Anaya, Bowling Green
GARY V. PALMISANO COACH OF THE YEAR
Ryan Swan, Northern Illinois
ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
Anthony Markanich, Northern Illinois, D
Jacob Erlandson, Bowling Green, DÂ
George Proctor, Georgia State, D
Nick Markanich, Northern Illinois, F
Diogo Pacheco, Akron, F
Adam Davie, Georgia Southern, F
Ryan Kingsford, Akron, F
Luke McCormick, West Virginia, M
Zach Buescher, Bowling Green, M
Pepe Martinez-Bertrand, Northern Illinois, M
Gunther Rankenburg, Georgia State, GK
Martin Sanchez, Northern Illinois, GK
ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
Joey Akpunonu, Bowling Green, D
Daniel Nimick, Western Michigan, D
Kevin Morris, West Virginia, DÂ
Malik Henry, Akron, D
Ciro Jaeggi Bourlot, West Virginia, F
Ethan Sassine, Georgia State, FÂ
Charlie Sharp, Western Michigan, F
Dyson Clapier, Akron, M
Ross Finnie, Georgia State, M
Alberto Anaya, Bowling Green, M
Dylan Sing, Western Michigan, MÂ
Steven Tekesky, West Virginia, GK
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Players Mentioned
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