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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Graves Named MAC co-Goalkeeper of the Year
November 10, 2022 | Men's Soccer
Four Falcons Land on All-Conference Team
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>>> Brendan Graves has been named the MAC's co-Goalkeeper of the Year
>>> Joey Akpunonu and Sergi Martinez join Graves on the All-MAC First Team
>>> Alberto Anaya has been named to the All-MAC Second Team for the second-straight season
CLEVELAND, Ohio (BGSU Strategic Communications) – Bowling Green State University men's soccer standout Brendan Graves has been named Mid-American Conference co-Goalkeeper of the Year, while Joey Akpunonu and Sergi Martinez join Graves on the All-MAC First Team.
Alberto Anaya has been named to the All-MAC Second Team, earning that honor for the second time in as many seasons.
The All-MAC Team and specialty-award winners were announced on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 10) by the league office.
Akpunonu has landed on the All-MAC Team for the second consecutive season. He earned all-league second-team honors last year before being named to the first team this season.
Graves, a native of Perrysburg, Ohio (Perrysburg), had one of the top seasons by a goalkeeper in program history. He played every second between the posts this season, allowing just 10 goals in 1440 minutes. He finished the year with seven shutouts in 16 matches, 43 saves and a goals-against average of just 0.63.
The 2022 Falcons set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season, and Graves's GAA of 0.63 was the lowest since 1995 and the third lowest in the 'modern' era (since 1980). He had a GAA of 0.63 both in and out of conference play, allowing five goals (one on a penalty kick) in eight non-league matches and five goals (one via PK) in eight MAC contests in '22.
Akpunonu, a native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), led the Falcons in goals, with six, and finished second on the club with 12 points. The defender also helped the Orange and Brown post those seven shutouts.
Akpunonu, the lone Falcon other than Graves to play all 1440 minutes this season, scored the first goal of the match in three of BGSU's four MAC wins. He now has career totals of eight goals and 19 points in 48 matches played.
Martinez, a native of Barcelona, Spain (Eugeni Xammar), led the Falcons in both assists and points, and finished second in goals. His 18 points included five goals and eight assists this fall. He had 13 points in the eight MAC matches, with three goals and seven assists.
In his final career game, Martinez had two goals and two assists in a 6-0 win over Northern Illinois on Sunday night (Nov. 6). He was named MAC Player of the Week on Tuesday (Nov. 8). In two seasons with the Falcons, Martinez had 30 points in 36 matches, with eight goals and 14 assists. Martinez, a transfer from Hartford, had totals of 14 goals, 21 assists and 49 points in his collegiate career.
Anaya, who hails from Queretaro, Mexico (ITESM Leon), finished third on the Falcons in scoring, with 10 points. He had three goals and four assists, ranking second on the team in assists and tying for third in goals despite missing four games due to injury.
Anaya was named MAC Player of the Week in late September, after exploding for seven points in a win over Oakland. In 32 career matches, Anaya has 24 points on eight goals and eight assists. Five of those eight career goals have been game winners.
BGSU went 6-5-5 overall, and the Falcons finished MAC play with a 4-2-2 league ledger, finishing third in the conference.
2022 ALL-MAC TEAM AND SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Daniel Nimick, Western Michigan
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jared Embick, Akron
CO-GOALKEEPERS OF THE YEAR
Brendan Graves, Bowling Green
Hunter Morse, Western Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Carson Hodgson, Western Michigan
ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
F: Dyson Clapier, Akron
F: Charlie Sharp, Western Michigan
F: Jason Shokalook, Akron
M: Eric Conerty, Western Michigan
M: Sergi Martinez, Bowling Green
M: Jonas Buechte, Akron
D: Daniel Nimick, Western Michigan
D: Malik Henry, Akron
D: Joey Akpunonu, Bowling Green
D: Will Jackson, Akron
GK: Brendan Graves, Bowling Green
ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
F: Mike Melaragni, Western Michigan
F: Dylan Sing, Western Michigan
F: Niall Reid-Stephen, Chicago State
M: John Fitzgerald, Akron
M: Adrian Corona, Northern Illinois
M: Alberto Anaya, Bowling Green
M: Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal, Akron
D: Adrian Lara, Northern Illinois
D: Joel Sangwa, Akron
D: Jaylen Shannon, Western Michigan
GK: Hunter Morse, Western Michigan
>>> Brendan Graves has been named the MAC's co-Goalkeeper of the Year
>>> Joey Akpunonu and Sergi Martinez join Graves on the All-MAC First Team
>>> Alberto Anaya has been named to the All-MAC Second Team for the second-straight season
CLEVELAND, Ohio (BGSU Strategic Communications) – Bowling Green State University men's soccer standout Brendan Graves has been named Mid-American Conference co-Goalkeeper of the Year, while Joey Akpunonu and Sergi Martinez join Graves on the All-MAC First Team.
Alberto Anaya has been named to the All-MAC Second Team, earning that honor for the second time in as many seasons.
The All-MAC Team and specialty-award winners were announced on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 10) by the league office.
Akpunonu has landed on the All-MAC Team for the second consecutive season. He earned all-league second-team honors last year before being named to the first team this season.
Graves, a native of Perrysburg, Ohio (Perrysburg), had one of the top seasons by a goalkeeper in program history. He played every second between the posts this season, allowing just 10 goals in 1440 minutes. He finished the year with seven shutouts in 16 matches, 43 saves and a goals-against average of just 0.63.
The 2022 Falcons set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season, and Graves's GAA of 0.63 was the lowest since 1995 and the third lowest in the 'modern' era (since 1980). He had a GAA of 0.63 both in and out of conference play, allowing five goals (one on a penalty kick) in eight non-league matches and five goals (one via PK) in eight MAC contests in '22.
Akpunonu, a native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), led the Falcons in goals, with six, and finished second on the club with 12 points. The defender also helped the Orange and Brown post those seven shutouts.
Akpunonu, the lone Falcon other than Graves to play all 1440 minutes this season, scored the first goal of the match in three of BGSU's four MAC wins. He now has career totals of eight goals and 19 points in 48 matches played.
Martinez, a native of Barcelona, Spain (Eugeni Xammar), led the Falcons in both assists and points, and finished second in goals. His 18 points included five goals and eight assists this fall. He had 13 points in the eight MAC matches, with three goals and seven assists.
In his final career game, Martinez had two goals and two assists in a 6-0 win over Northern Illinois on Sunday night (Nov. 6). He was named MAC Player of the Week on Tuesday (Nov. 8). In two seasons with the Falcons, Martinez had 30 points in 36 matches, with eight goals and 14 assists. Martinez, a transfer from Hartford, had totals of 14 goals, 21 assists and 49 points in his collegiate career.
Anaya, who hails from Queretaro, Mexico (ITESM Leon), finished third on the Falcons in scoring, with 10 points. He had three goals and four assists, ranking second on the team in assists and tying for third in goals despite missing four games due to injury.
Anaya was named MAC Player of the Week in late September, after exploding for seven points in a win over Oakland. In 32 career matches, Anaya has 24 points on eight goals and eight assists. Five of those eight career goals have been game winners.
BGSU went 6-5-5 overall, and the Falcons finished MAC play with a 4-2-2 league ledger, finishing third in the conference.
2022 ALL-MAC TEAM AND SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Daniel Nimick, Western Michigan
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jared Embick, Akron
CO-GOALKEEPERS OF THE YEAR
Brendan Graves, Bowling Green
Hunter Morse, Western Michigan
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Carson Hodgson, Western Michigan
ALL-MAC FIRST TEAM
F: Dyson Clapier, Akron
F: Charlie Sharp, Western Michigan
F: Jason Shokalook, Akron
M: Eric Conerty, Western Michigan
M: Sergi Martinez, Bowling Green
M: Jonas Buechte, Akron
D: Daniel Nimick, Western Michigan
D: Malik Henry, Akron
D: Joey Akpunonu, Bowling Green
D: Will Jackson, Akron
GK: Brendan Graves, Bowling Green
ALL-MAC SECOND TEAM
F: Mike Melaragni, Western Michigan
F: Dylan Sing, Western Michigan
F: Niall Reid-Stephen, Chicago State
M: John Fitzgerald, Akron
M: Adrian Corona, Northern Illinois
M: Alberto Anaya, Bowling Green
M: Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal, Akron
D: Adrian Lara, Northern Illinois
D: Joel Sangwa, Akron
D: Jaylen Shannon, Western Michigan
GK: Hunter Morse, Western Michigan
Players Mentioned
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