MSOC: Thunderbirds top coaches poll

Aug. 24, 2023 – Can anyone put a stop to the UBC Thunderbirds historic conference dynasty?

What will the Thompson Rivers WolfPack do for an encore after delivering the school’s first U SPORTS national championship?

These are among the key storylines surrounding the 2023 Canada West men’s soccer season, set to kick off this Friday.

UBC has once again topped the pre-season coaches poll and for good reason – they enter as five-time defending conference champions. The T-Birds went 9-3-3 in the regular season last year, before ultimately downing the Calgary Dinos in the CW final after a dramatic PK thriller.

Despite roster turnover, T-Birds head coach Mike Mosher believes his team has what it takes to keep the championship streak alive.

“We expect to have another strong season this year despite losing some key top players,” says Mosher, who enters his 28^th season at the helm of the T-Birds. “The key will be how the group gels and connects given several new guys coming in, several of whom I think can have a real impact immediately.”

WolfPack Look to Defend National Title

While UBC claimed conference supremacy again last season, it’s the Thompson Rivers WolfPack who will enter 2023 as defending national champions.

The WolfPack downed UBC in last year’s national final, capturing the school's first-ever U SPORTS title with a memorable victory in front of their raucous hometown fans.

The U SPORTS championship was the first for a Canada West men's soccer side since the Alberta Golden Bears took the crown in 2016.

The WolfPack are expected to be among the strongest teams in the conference again this season, finishing fourth in the coaches poll.

Cougars, Golden Bears Hungry to Take Next Step

Looking east to the Prairie Division, both the Mount Royal Cougars and Alberta Golden Bears hope to build off semi-final appearances last season. The Cougars and Golden Bears placed second and third in this year’s coaches poll, respectively.

Both clubs are expected to be strong contenders for the CW trophy, with MRU receiving two first-place votes and Alberta garnering a single first-place nod.

MRU is coming off a memorable regular season that saw the side go an undefeated 8-0-6, conceding just seven goals in 14 games. The team will look to take the next step after a heartbreaking semifinal 2OT defeat to the cross-town rival Dinos.

Alberta is also coming off a strong campaign that saw the team finish second in the Prairie Division, before falling to UBC in the semis.

Opening weekend begins Friday through Sunday with a full slate of games across the conference. The regular season runs through Oct. 22, with playoffs slated to begin Oct. 28.

For the complete 2023 Canada West men’s soccer schedule, click here.

MEN'S SOCCER ON CANADA WEST TV

Fans can catch all the action through the new look CanadaWest.TV, which now allows fans to watch games on popular Connected TV apps like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.

2023 CW MSOC PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL 

Team - Points (First-place votes)

1. UBC Thunderbirds - 142 (10)
2. Mount Royal Cougars – 125 (2)
3. Alberta Golden Bears – 123 (1)
4. Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 102
5. Trinity Western Spartans – 98
6. Calgary Dinos - 85
7. UNBC Timberwolves – 84
8. Saskatchewan Huskies - 70
9. Victoria Vikes - 55
10. Fraser Valley Cascades - 54
11. UBCO Heat – 32
12. MacEwan Griffins - 30
13. Lethbridge Pronghorns - 14 

2023 CW MSOC TEAM PREVIEWS

1. UBC Thunderbirds 

From the coach: "We expect to have another strong season this year despite losing some key top players from last season. The key will be how the group gels and connects given several new guys coming in, several of whom I think can have a real impact immediately." - Mike Mosher

Key Performer: Eric Lajeunesse

Eric Lajeunesse will look to build on a sensational first season with UBC that saw him take home both Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year honours. The 20 year-old defender showed remarkable skill and poise as a key starter for a Thunderbirds team that won its fifth consecutive Canada West championship in 2022. Lajeunesse was selected sixth overall by Pacific FC in last year's Canadian Premier League - U SPORTS draft.

2. Mount Royal University Cougars 

Key Performer: Benedikt Mehl 

3. University of Alberta Golden Bears

From the coach: "We are excited to get another CW season underway. CW Soccer is particularly tough given the quality of each program - our key to success will be the hunger in our squad to compete at the highest level and prove ourselves in every game we play." - Martin Andersen

Key Performer:  Marcus Velado-Tsegaye

Despite owning one of the best rosters in Canada West in 2022, the Bears were plagued by a lack of scoring at key moments. The Bears scored 1 goal or fewer 10 times last season, including doing so in both the CW Semifinal and bronze medal matches. The 2023 squad, however, is primed to fix those issues. Among those who will lead the offence is first-year Bear Marcus Velado-Tsegaye, who joins the UofA after three years of professional soccer, and a stint with the U20 El Salvador national team.

4. Thompson Rivers University WolfPack

Key Performer: Elijah Dos Santos 

Named to the Canada West All-Rookie team last season, Elijah Dos Santos helped lead the WolfPack to the U SPORTS National Championship in his first season of play. A talented centre back, Dos Santos was a key part of a WolfPack defence that kept seven clean sheets in CW play in 2022. The business major was named to the U SPORTS Championship All-Star Team after playing all 360 minutes for the 'Pack while scoring one goal in regulation and also tallying in all three shootouts en route to the team capturing the first U SPORTS title in school history.

5. Trinity Western University Spartans 

3 Keys from the Coach: "1. Health. We need to stay healthy in key positions. Last year we missed too many key players for most of the year. 2. Filling in the gaps for the players we lost. 3. Taking care of key moments. We lost games based on key moments." - Mike Shearon

Key Performer: Thomas Powell

Thomas Powell will lead the Spartans from the middle of the park, as the the third-year midfielder will play a key role as TWU targets a return to the Canada West postseason. With four goals and four assists, Powell is the Spartans top returning offensive contributor while also being a steadying presence defensively for TWU.

6. University of Calgary Dinos

From the coach: "Our team's key to success is our defense and our energy in mid field. The team's outlook is to get to nationals." -Brendan O'Connell

Key Performer: Gianmarco Plenzik

Gianmarco Plenzik is the veteran leaders returning to a young Dinos squad this season. The third-year local product scored three goals during the Dinos memorable postseason run a season ago – two that proved to be game winners.

7. UNBC Timberwolves

From the coach: "UNBC will start the 2023 season with a significant turnover in player personel. Having lost a core of the group that featured in the successful 2022 campaign, UNBC will call on some key returning players as well as a talented incoming group of freshmen to compete in the ever challenging Pacific Division. CW MVP Michael Henman is back, along with veteran goalkeeper Dan Zadravec among other key returners. UNBC welcomes 11 new players to the roster who will need to hit the ground runnning if we're to find our way back to the CW playoffs for the second straight year." - Steve Simonson

Key Performer: Michael Henman

After a storybook 2022 season that saw him lead Canada West with 19 goals and 21 points, and outscore 22 schools in U SPORTS, Henman followed it up with a L1BC Player of the Year performance this summer. The sturdy forward will look to provide leadership and finishing ability to a Timberwolves team with 20 players in their first or second year.

8. University of Saskatchewan Huskies

Key Performer: Ahmed Mohammed

Ahmed Mohammed had a great 2022 season with the Huskies and we expect that to continue into the 2023 season. As one of our senior players, we expect to see great leadership from him on the pitch, making an immediate impact on our offence. - Head Coach Bryce Chapman

9. University of Victoria Vikes

From the coach: "The Vikes are excited about the upcoming season. The team will be a dynamic, young and motivated squad hungry to start the season well and demonstrate consistency throughout. Team unity will be key to the Vikes' success this season." - Larry Stefanek

Key Performer: Javier Sagaste

The Vikes return their goals, assist and points leader Javier Sagaste for his fourth year in 2023. Sagaste tallied four goals and two assists for six points in 2022, accounting for just over one quarter of the Vikes' offence last season. Earning the captain's armband in 2023, Sagaste will lead a young Vikes squad on the pitch in 2023.

10. University of the Fraser Valley Cascades

From the coach: "UFV will be looking to rebuild after graduating seven starters from last seasons team. A young and energetic squad will need to be defensively solid, led by captain Nic Burret. The cascades will need vital contributions from senior forward Manpal Brar, returning attacker Matteo Brazinha and newcoming Kian Proctor to create and score goals for the team." - Tom Lowndes

Key Performer: Nicolas Burret

With Cascades captain Trevor Zanatta graduating last season, the mantle has been passed to second year defender Nicolas Burret. The German born centre back will provide a steady and composed presence in the back line for a young UFV squad this season. Fresh off a League 1 BC season where he helped the TSS Rovers knock professional side Valour FC out of the Canadian Championship, the Cascades will be leaning heavily on the play and leadership of Burret in 2023.

11. UBC Okanagan Heat

Key Performer: Giuliano Montagliani 

Montagliani heads into his fourth season with the Heat. With the departure of some key leaders from the UBCO lineup, the 6-2 midfielder will be looked upon to provide quality ball distribution and strong decision making in the middle of the pitch. After missing the first half of the season due to injury a year ago, UBCO posted a 3-3-3 record with him in the lineup, demonstrating his ability to impact the game positively for UBCO.

12. MacEwan University Griffins

From the coach: "Recently, we have always been in-and-around the playoffs. As we know there are always many ups and downs throughout the season, it is important that we stay focused, composed, and most importantly together. We believe in this group, and they believe in themselves - hopefully we can make a run." - Adam Loga

Key Performer: Chance Carter

While several new intriguing pieces have been added to the Griffins, including former Griffins Ali Yildiz and Michael Enes who have returned to the team from overseas pro experiences, the linchpin of the squad is former FC Edmonton pro Chance Carter. The central midfielder is crucial to winning and keeping possession for the Griffins, using his power and speed to control play in the middle of the pitch. Perhaps the biggest indication of his importance is how much the Griffins missed him after he sat out five games with injury in 2022 and wasn't 100 per cent in a few others, leading to MacEwan falling from first place in the Prairie Division midseason to out of the playoffs.

13. University of Lethbridge Pronghorns

From the coach: "A good balance between experience and youth with several players returing and a good incoming recruiting class. More depth to manage the demands of the season. A better understanding of our system now that we are in the second year of the new system." - Davin Haigh

Key Performer: Damon Field 

Damon Field is a key performer for the Pronghorns based on his ability in possession and out of possession. Field provides control out of the back in buildup. Field's physical and technical ability garners confidence for the team with and without the ball.