VICTORIA –
Bruce Wilson is set for his 31
st season as head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team and his freshman-filled roster will be contending for what could be their sixth national championship banner. The Vikes men's soccer team were set to begin their Canada West campaign this weekend, Aug. 24-25, on the road in Prince George, B.C. with a pair of road games against the UNBC Timberwolves; however, air quality issues have postponed the opening weekend o games.
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The Vikes have a big turnover this year with the departure of the experienced
Tarnvir Bhandal,
Paulo Dait,
Michael Baart, Dorian Colopsis and
Austin Schneebeli. With over half the team entering their first year as a Vike, Wilson has spent his pre-season getting the team to gel. Vikes soccer alumni
Cam Hundal,
Nico Craveiro and Paddy Nelson join Wilson on his coaching staff alongside goalkeeping expert Carlos Almeida.
"This is a new team for us and it's going to take some time for the players to get used to the level of competition, for one, and then getting used to our own players," said Wilson about his team with 13 first-time Vikes. "That's why the pre-season was very important for us to get to know each other but overall I have been very pleased with the recruiting we did."
The Vikes have quite the freshman class including three likely starters. Six of those recruits hail from Victoria, including the team's top recruit and striker
Matteo Ventura.
"Matteo is a huge prospect for us this year," added Wilson about the five-foot-ten Humanities major. "He came out of Reynolds' soccer academy and we are definitely going to look to him to score goals. He's a very good player that is excellent on penalty kicks or anything we need."
Wilson also highlighted the talents of
Matt Hobson, of Surrey's Fleetwood Park Secondary, who Wilson describes as undoubtedly the fittest player on the team that will start in central midfield. The team is also gaining two first-year Vikes that come already seasoned in post-secondary play.
Midfielder
Nick Park will join the Vikes as a transfer from Quest University in Squamish, B.C., while defender
Niko Cristante joins from Vancouver Island University. Both Park and Cristante are likely to crack the starting lineup and still have two years of eligibility left.
Despite the many new faces in the line-up, the Vikes still boast experience including fourth-year keeper
Jas Lally, fifth-year defensive veteran
Mackenzie Rigg, fourth year
Xavier Araujo and six-foot-five third year
Evan Libke.
"We have been playing senior men's teams around town and we haven't lost and have only given up one goal in five games so for us that's a huge accomplishment starting with our goalkeeper, Jas, right through our team," noted Wilson on the team's undefeated pre-season.
The team begins their season on the road against Trinity Western, Aug. 31, and Fraser Valley, Sept. 2. The Vikes open at home on Sept. 7, the Annual ThunderFest game, at 6:30 p.m. against UBC Okanagan. The Thompson Rivers WolfPack will be in town to close the home-opening weekend on Sept. 8.
"The goal is always to make playoffs but it's a very difficult situation this year because UBC are hosting the national championship which means it automatically eliminates one of the berths," said Wilson about the challenges of this year. "Out of all the Canada West teams only one makes it. We are talking basically 14 teams that we have to beat out to try and take that second spot. It will be a learning curve for our players."
The Canada West pre-season coach's poll lists the Vikes in ninth, while the UBC Thunderbirds topped the polls. All Pacific Division teams and select Prairie Division teams will webcast games live at
canadawest.tv. To purchase your 2018 Canada West TV pass,
click here. Early bird pricing is in effect until Friday, Aug. 24. Tickets for Vikes home games can be purchased in person or online at
govikesgo.com/tickets.
2018 CANADA WEST MSOC PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
TEAM / POINTS (FIRST-PLACE VOTES)
1. UBC Thunderbirds / 139 (8)
2. Alberta Golden Bears / 134 (4)
3. Trinity Western Spartans / 121
4. Calgary Dinos / 97
5. Thompson Rivers WolfPack / 95 (1)
6. Saskatchewan Huskies / 83
7. Mount Royal Cougars / 72
8. UNBC Timberwolves / 60
9. Victoria Vikes / 59
10. UBCO Heat / 58
11. UFV Cascades / 49
12. Lethbridge Pronghorns / 24
13. MacEwan Griffins / 16
NOTES: Coaches rank all conference teams excluding their own. First-place vote worth 12 pts., second-place 11 pts. etc.
VICTORIA VIKES
2017 CW regular season record: 6-8-1, 5th Pacific
2017 post-season record (CW and U SPORTS combined): N/A
Last CW championship / total CW championships (if no championships, list highest previous finish): 2009 / 13
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships (if no championships, list highest previous finish): 2011 / 5
2017 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 19 goals, 7th
Defence: 33 goals against, 11th
2017 CW regular season leaders:
Goals: 4 –
Isaac Koch, M
Assists: 4 –
Michael Baart, F
Points: 7 –
Isaac Koch, M &
Michael Baart F
Wins: 3 –
Maxwell Branyik-Gil, GK &
Jas Lally GK
Shutouts: 2 –
Maxwell Branyik-Gil, GK
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Matteo Ventura / F / 1 / Victoria / Reynolds Secondary
Rees Goertzen / F / 1 / Victoria / Mount Douglas Secondary
Matt Hobson / M / 1 / Surrey, B.C. / Fleetwood Park Secondary
Niko Cristante / D / 4 / Powell River, B.C. / Vancouver Island University
Nick Park / M / 1 / Vancouver / Kitsilano Secondary
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Tarnvir Bhandal / M / Victoria / 4
Paulo Dait / M / Maple Ridge, B.C. / 5
Michael Baart / F / Victoria / 4
Dorian Colopisis / D / Langley, B.C. / 2
Austin Schneebeli / M / Sicamous, B.C. / 4
Evan Stefanek / D / Qualicum Beach, B.C. / 3
