Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
Akpunonu Named MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week
September 14, 2022 | Men's Soccer
BGSU junior earns second honor in as many days
CLEVELAND, Ohio (BGSU Strategic Communications) -- Bowling Green State University men's soccer standout Joey Akpunonu has been named the Mid-American Conference's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday (Sept. 14). Akpunonu earns the honor for the first time in his Falcon career.
This marks the second honor in as many days for Akpunonu. On Tuesday, he was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.
Akpunonu, a native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), played key roles at both ends of the pitch as the Falcons picked up results in a pair of games vs. Big Ten opponents last week. The junior defender anchored a BGSU back line that allowed just one goal in 180 minutes as the Falcons battled to a scoreless draw at Michigan and a 1-1 deadlock vs. Michigan State.
In Ann Arbor, he helped hold U-M to five total shots, including just one on goal. Then, vs. MSU, Akpunonu helped the Falcons outshoot the Spartans by a 27-10 count, and he scored BGSU's lone goal on a second-half penalty kick.
Akpunonu has played every second of every match at center back, as the Falcons have allowed just three goals (including one on a PK) in five matches.
In the classroom, Akpunonu has a perfect 4.000 cumulative grade-point average as a biology major.
The Scholar-Athlete of the Week Award is presented to one male and one female student-athlete each week. Nominees must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and must have performed well during the previous week's competition. An institution can nominate up to one male and one female student-athlete per week in any of that current season's sports. The winners are selected by a representative of the MAC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs).
The Falcons, 0-2-3 on the young season, head to Colorado for a Saturday (Sept. 17) matchup vs. Air Force. First touch will be at 8:00 p.m. ET. Then, BGSU returns home for matches against Oakland (Sept. 23) and Western Michigan (Sept. 27), with the latter game being the Mid-American Conference opener.
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.
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This marks the second honor in as many days for Akpunonu. On Tuesday, he was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.
Akpunonu, a native of Toledo, Ohio (St. John's Jesuit), played key roles at both ends of the pitch as the Falcons picked up results in a pair of games vs. Big Ten opponents last week. The junior defender anchored a BGSU back line that allowed just one goal in 180 minutes as the Falcons battled to a scoreless draw at Michigan and a 1-1 deadlock vs. Michigan State.
In Ann Arbor, he helped hold U-M to five total shots, including just one on goal. Then, vs. MSU, Akpunonu helped the Falcons outshoot the Spartans by a 27-10 count, and he scored BGSU's lone goal on a second-half penalty kick.
Akpunonu has played every second of every match at center back, as the Falcons have allowed just three goals (including one on a PK) in five matches.
In the classroom, Akpunonu has a perfect 4.000 cumulative grade-point average as a biology major.
The Scholar-Athlete of the Week Award is presented to one male and one female student-athlete each week. Nominees must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and must have performed well during the previous week's competition. An institution can nominate up to one male and one female student-athlete per week in any of that current season's sports. The winners are selected by a representative of the MAC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs).
The Falcons, 0-2-3 on the young season, head to Colorado for a Saturday (Sept. 17) matchup vs. Air Force. First touch will be at 8:00 p.m. ET. Then, BGSU returns home for matches against Oakland (Sept. 23) and Western Michigan (Sept. 27), with the latter game being the Mid-American Conference opener.
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.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Men's SoccerThursday, October 30
Thursday, October 23
Friday, October 17
Saturday, October 11