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2011 Canada West Men's Soccer Preview
Here is a look at the 8 men’s soccer schools as Week 1 approaches…
ALBERTA GOLDEN BEARS
2010 conference record: 11-2-1 (1st)
2010 playoffs: 1-3
Last CW title: 2003
Last CIS title: 2006
CIS ranking: #7
CW ranking: #3
Key additions: TBA
Key returnees: Marcus Johnstone (S), Brett Colvin (S), Milan Timotijevic (MF), Matthew Wright (D), Cameron Schmidt (MF)
Key departures: TBA
EDMONTON – Preview coming soon.
UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2010 conference record: 8-3-3 (2nd)
2010 playoffs: 4-1 (CW champs, CIS silver)
Last CW title: 2010
Last CIS title: 2007
CIS ranking: #2
CW ranking: #1
Key additions: Kent O'Connor (D); Cameron Davis (F)
Key returnees: Zack Kalthoff (GK), Jason Gill (D), Matt Allard (D), Will Hyde (D); Brandon Bonifacio (MF), Tyson Keam (MF), Navid Mashinchi (MF); Gagandeep Dosanjh (F)
Key departures: Ryan Reynolds (MF), Graham Weber (D); Joey Loreth (D)
VANCOUVER - UBC Thunderbirds head coach Mike Mosher has a veteran-laden team that is primed for another run at a national championship in 2011. UBC fell just short of their goal last year, losing 1-0 to York in the CIS Final. Most of the key players from that team are back.
All-Canadian Jason Gill will anchor the defence, which gave up just 14 goals in 14 regular season games in 2010. He will be joined by Canada West all-stars Will Hyde and Matt Allard as well the team’s most notable newcomer, Kent O’Connor. The 24 year old is a former member of Canada’s U-20 National team, and has playing experience with German and Danish clubs as well as one appearance with Toronto FC.
Canada West All Star Brandon Bonifacio will lead a talented and balanced UBC midfield that also includes Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program player Navid Mashinchi and senior Tyson Keam, as well as former Canada West Rookie of the Year Devon Gunenc.
Up front, the focus will be on Gagandeep Dosanjh, who was second in league scoring with nine goals in his rookie season while Cameron Davis joins UBC from the Ottawa Fury.
CALGARY DINOS
2010 conference record: 8-4-2 (3rd)
2010 playoffs: 0-2
Last CW title: 1980
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #6
Key additions: Sean Daly, Jevan Bailey, Jordan Unreiner
Key returnees: Izak Lawrence, Devin Delany, Dustin Ruddell
Key departures: J.P. Crescenzi, Brian Delaney, Matt Reid
CALGARY – Optimism in 2010 was rewarded with historic success and a terrific third place finish in the competitive Canada West. Positive feelings remain the same in 2011 as the University of Calgary Dinos look to build on their recent accomplishments.
For the first time in team history the Calgary Dinos went undefeated at home in 2010, and at 8-4-2 overall vaulted into the playoffs. Calgary fell in the Canada West semifinal by a heartbreaking 1-0 margin to the UBC Thunderbirds, who went on to lose by the same score in the CIS Championship final to the York Lions.
While the Dinos did lose the rugged leadership of their second team conference all-star J.P. Crescenzi as well as mainstays Brian Delaney and Matthew Reid, the Dinos are well-positioned in their personnel to maintain their high standing in Canada West.
Three more second team Canada West All-Stars return for Calgary, led by sensational forward Izak Lawrence. Lawrence ranked second in the conference in scoring in 2010, tallying 13 points, and showed no signs of slowing down in the off-season, leading the Alberta Major Soccer League in points for the second straight year.
FRASER VALLEY CASCADES
2010 conference record: 4-10-0 (7th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #7
Key additions: Connor O’Neill, Colton O’Neill
Key returnees: Craig Robinson, Ethan Claiborne-Collins, Juan Pablo Mora Perea
Key departure: James Giebelhaus
ABBOTSFORD, BC – The Cascades look to improve on their 4-10-0 Canada West regular season record in 2010.
Led by veteran head coach Alan Errington, entering his sixth season at the helm of the Cascades, they look to third-year midfielder Sasa Plavsic, who led the 2010 team with six goals, five assists. The Cascades will also be counting on Ravi Singh to be the main catalyst on the back line. Singh had a great rookie year marking some of Canada West’s top strikers and holding them scoreless. The Cascades net will be split between two veteran UFV goalkeepers Mark Village and Colton Keam.
The Cascades top recruits include brothers Connor O’Neill, a midfielder and Colton O’Neill, a defender, the Abbotsford, B.C. products join their older brother Trevor, a midfielder on the Cascades roster in 2011.
LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS
2010 conference record: 1-11-2 (8th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking:
CW ranking:
Key additions: Chris Rushworth (MF); Devin Diano (F), Scot Prokoptez (D)
Key returnees: Lucas Rajcic (D), Colin Pattison (GK), Justin Lariviere (D), Morgan Brownjohn (MF)
Key departures: Steve Brown (D), Andrew Malcolm (F/MF)
LETHBRIDGE –Lethbridge enters the season with a great mix of experience and youth. The Pronghorns return 11 players from last year’s team and welcome 15 new faces to the program, with good combination of true freshmen and college transfers.
After a solid non-conference schedule versus ACAC and American schools, where they only suffered one defeat, the ‘Horns will look to work themselves back up the conference standings. After only scoring a conference low six goals last season, vast improvement in the offensive attack will be needed for the Horns to challenge the top-tier teams in the Canada West.
The Horns will be led by fifth-year co-captains, goalkeeper Colin Pattison and defender Justin Lariviere, while midfielders Matt Medoruma (4th) and Morgan Brownjohn will play key roles in the midfield. Transfer Scott Slomp has proven to be a solid addition to the program thus far. Defender Lucas Rajcic will provide great two-way play. Dario Pasquotti, who joined the team at the midway point last season, will be counted on to continue his improvement. First-year players Chris Rushworth, Devin Diano and Scot Prokoptez have already shown in the preseason that they will make contributions.
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES
2010 conference record: 7-4-3 (4th)
2010 playoffs: 1-1
Last CW title: N/A
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #4
Key additions: Brett Levis, Shaan Kapila
Key returnees: Josh Northey, Jerson Barandica-Hamilton, Jordian Farahani, Eoin McFadden
Key departures: Paul Craig, Myles Shedden
SASKATOON – The Huskies enter 2011 on the heels of a program-best finish last season, finishing fourth and claiming silver at the conference Final Four.
Saskatchewan will look to a core group of experienced players and a crop of rookies to lead the team back to the playoffs.
Returning to the team will be 2010 Canada West MVP Josh Northey and Canada West leading scorer Jerson Barandica-Hamilton. Both will enter their fifth-year of eligibility and look to continue to lead the Huskies on offence. Northey finished the season leading the Huskies with seven goals and five assists, while Barandica-Hamilton scored 10 goals in 2010. Both represented Canada at the Summer Universiade this year for the second straight games. Also returning is 2010 all-star defender Jordian Farahani and 2009 all-star midfielder Eoin McFadden.
The Huskies will look to rookie strikers Brett Levis and Shaan Kapila to replace Paul Craig, who left the team to play professional soccer with the FC Edmonton of the NASL.
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS
2010 conference record: 5-5-4 (5th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: 2007
Last CIS title: N/A
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #5
Key additions: Spencer Schmidt (F), Brayden Gant (M)
Key returnees: Andrew Fink (G), Andrew Kowan (G), Jordan Whitehead (M), Rhys Volkenant (D), Brayden Volkenant (D), Gogo VItic (M), Liam McAllister (D), Denny Serifovic (D), Jason Wiens (M), Ioannis Tsoulouhas (M)
Key departures: Chase Wickham (M), Cardin Davis (D)
LANGLEY, BC – After the missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2002 and failing to reach the CIS championship for the first time since 2004, the Spartans are a hungry squad determined to return to what has become typical Trinity Western form.
With the Spartans returning all but two of last year’s starters – midfielder Chase Wickham, who transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Cardin Davis – and with the additions of immediate impact players like forward Spencer Schmidt and midfielder Braydent Gant, plus the return of defender Brayden Volkenant, who was injured most of last year.
In net, the tandem of Andrew Fink and Andrew Kowan will once again be a strength for TWU as, similar to last year, the veteran keepers will likely split duties throughout the season.
The backline will lose the gritty Davis, but the return of Brayden Volkenant will no doubt bolster a defence that should be every bit as good as last year, and likely better. In the middle of the park, Gant will be a tower of strength but he will be surrounded by plenty of veteran talent – notably Jason Wiens, Jordan Whitehead and Gogo Vitic.
Up front, Schmidt, who has already shown his goal-scoring prowess in preseason, will make an immediate impact. With Andre Costa a question mark due to injury, Schmidt will counted on to dictate the offence and if his lone season in Canada West is any indication – he scored eight goals in 14 games in 2007 with Fraser Valley.
VICTORIA VIKES
2010 conference record: 4-9-1 (6th)
2010 playoffs: N/A
Last CW title: 2009
Last CIS title: 2004
CIS ranking: N/A
CW ranking: #2
Key additions: M Lucas Barrett, D Connor Boag, M/F Thomas Mallette, M/F Cam Hundal, M Craig Gorman, M Doug Joyce, F Kurt Macaulay
Key returnees: G Daniel Kilpatrick, G Elliot Mitrou, D Colin Wilson, D Bobby Eng, D James Rhodes, M Andrew Ravenhill, M Miguel Romeo, F Peter Richmond
Key departures: F Justin Manz, D Harrison Kwok
VICTORIA – Under 25-year head coach Bruce Wilson, the Vikes play host to the 2011 CIS Nationals, Nov. 10-13, and hope a veteran-laden squad will help them to recover from a disappointing 2010 campaign.
The squad boasts seven fifth-year seniors along with six fourth-years as it returns a number of players who took a season off, including goalkeeper and 2009 Canada West Championship MVP Daniel Kilpatrick, a three-time All-Star, who joins Elliot Mitrou in a great one-two punch in goal. Kilpatrick is joined by fleet-footed midfielder Miguel Romeo, an Argentinian-born playmaker who attended high school in Calgary, six-foot-five striker Peter Richmond, midfielders Kyle Kostis and Corey Sanford, and six-foot-three fullback Colin Wilson.
The Vikes won their final three games of the 2010 Canada West season and posted an impressive 5-0-1 preseason record, outscoring their opponents 28-6. Midfielder Thomas Mallette has stood out in an attacking midfield role while freshmen strikers Kurt Macaulay and Cam Hundal will provide scoring depth.
