Ononye Signs Pro Contract With Toronto FC II of USL
4/30/2015 4:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Former Raider men's soccer standout Emeka Ononye has signed with Toronto FC II of the United Soccer League. Toronto FC II is the reserve team and minor league affiliate of Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.
Ononye, a defender from Richmond, Ontario, was named First Team All-Horizon League as a senior in 2014 and Second Team as a junior. Last season, he scored three goals and assisted on another while leading one of the top league defenses, a defense that posted a 1.33 goals against average for the year.
"My time here at Wright State has featured many highs and lows which has helped me grow as a player and a person on and off the field," said Ononye. "I would like to first off thank my teammates throughout my whole career here that have pushed me to this point, I could not have done it without them. Secondly, I owe a lot of this accomplishment to my family that have supported me through my adventure as a Division I student-athlete. Lastly, I would like to thank the Wright State coaching staff of present and prior years for doing what they do best. Their vital decision after my sophomore year has helped me fulfill my dream of becoming a professional soccer player."
The Raiders advanced to the Horizon League finals twice in his four seasons as the team posted 12 wins in 2014--the most since 2001.
"Emeka has had as good of a career as anyone in recent history can boast as a Raider," said Wright State head coach Bryan Davis. "He plays a position that doesn't fill stat sheets but this opportunity is one that he is very deserving of."
"He has worked on his craft, trusted the staff with a major position change and has become the professional both on and off the field we all saw in him when we brought him in," added Davis. "I'm very proud to have coached him and am excited to see how far he takes this opportunity."
“Emeka is a player that we have scouted for some time now and has also been on a short trial with us during March of this year,” said Toronto FC II Head Coach Jason Bent. “He is an athletic center back that really enjoys defending. The addition of Emeka will add greater competition for places in our backline.”
Ononye was also named Third Team All-Great Lakes by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2014 and was the Player of the Year for K-W United FC of the Premier Development League. He will graduate Saturday from WSU with a degree in Accountancy.
