Bowling Green State University Athletics

Photo by: Steve Woltmann
Akpunonu Earns All-Region First-Team Honors
December 09, 2022 | Men's Soccer
Junior center-back picks up yet another honor
Bowling Green State University men's soccer standout Joey Akpunonu has earned yet another honor. The junior defender has been named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team.
It's been quite an eventful week for Akpunonu, who was named to the Academic All-America® First Team, presented by College Sports Communicators, on Wednesday (Dec. 7). Then, on Thursday (Dec. 8), he was one of 44 players across the nation invited to participate in the adidas Major League Soccer College Showcase.
A native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), Akpunonu started all 16 matches for the Falcons in 2022, and was named to the All-MAC First Team. He 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 seven shutouts in those 16 contests.
Akpunonu, the lone Falcon other than goalkeeper Brendan Graves to play all 1440 minutes this season, scored the first goal of the match in three of BGSU's four Mid-American Conference wins. He now has career totals of eight goals and 19 points in 48 matches played.
He helped the Falcons set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season. BGSU surrendered just 10 goals in 2022, with two of those 10 coming via penalty kicks.
BGSU went 6-5-5 overall, and the Falcons finished MAC play with a 4-2-2 league ledger, finishing third in the conference. The Falcons will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference beginning next fall.
The Falcons have a record of 42-25-12 over the last 79 games, dating to midway through the 2018 season. Sixteen of the 25 setbacks in that time have come by a single goal.
For more information on the men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUmenssoccer), Instagram (bgsumenssoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
It's been quite an eventful week for Akpunonu, who was named to the Academic All-America® First Team, presented by College Sports Communicators, on Wednesday (Dec. 7). Then, on Thursday (Dec. 8), he was one of 44 players across the nation invited to participate in the adidas Major League Soccer College Showcase.
A native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), Akpunonu started all 16 matches for the Falcons in 2022, and was named to the All-MAC First Team. He 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 seven shutouts in those 16 contests.
Akpunonu, the lone Falcon other than goalkeeper Brendan Graves to play all 1440 minutes this season, scored the first goal of the match in three of BGSU's four Mid-American Conference wins. He now has career totals of eight goals and 19 points in 48 matches played.
He helped the Falcons set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season. BGSU surrendered just 10 goals in 2022, with two of those 10 coming via penalty kicks.
BGSU went 6-5-5 overall, and the Falcons finished MAC play with a 4-2-2 league ledger, finishing third in the conference. The Falcons will compete in the Missouri Valley Conference beginning next fall.
The Falcons have a record of 42-25-12 over the last 79 games, dating to midway through the 2018 season. Sixteen of the 25 setbacks in that time have come by a single goal.
For more information on the men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUmenssoccer), Instagram (bgsumenssoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
Players Mentioned
Off The Pitch: Gonzalo Carranza (Oct. 30, 2025)
Thursday, October 30
Off The Pitch: Jack Bennett (Oct. 22, 2025)
Thursday, October 23
Off The Pitch: Ryko Bodurov (Oct. 16, 2025)
Friday, October 17
Eric Nichols Post-Match Interview (Oct. 10, 2025)
Saturday, October 11


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