MSOC: T-Birds earn double-digit all-star, all-rookie total

October 31, 2018

Evan Daum, Canada West Communications

EDMONTON – Ahead of hosting the Canada West Men's Soccer Final Four this weekend, the UBC Thunderbirds had a total of 10 players honoured as conference all-stars, or all-rookies Wednesday.

The all-star and all-rookie teams were selected by the conference's 13 men's soccer head coaches, who also vote on the conference's major awards, which will be released Thursday.

Highlights:

UBC led the all-star and all-rookie tally with 10 players honoured
The Thunderbirds host this weekend's CW MSOC Final Four beginning with semifinal action Friday
The conference's major award winners will be unveiled Thursday afternoon

Thunderbirds Connor Guilherme and Thomas Gardner cracked the first all-star team, while UBC dominated the second team with five players selected. The 'Birds also had three players make the all-rookie team.

UBC went 13-1-2 during the regular season and will host this weekend's four-team conference tournament, where one team will earn the right to join the 'Birds as a CW representative at the U SPORTS national tournament. UBC is set to host that event November 8-11.

All together, the four teams at this weekend's Final Four had 16 players honoured Wednesday: UBC (10), Fraser Valley (4), Thompson Rivers (1), and Trinity Western (1).

TRU and TWU clash Friday at 4 p.m. PDT in the first CW semi, while UBC takes on UFV in the second semi at 7 p.m. PDT.

You can watch all the action from this weekend's CW MSOC Final Four by tuning in on Canada West TV. Post-season passes can be purchased by clicking here.

Position / Name / University / Eligibility / Hometown / Program

GK / Connor James / Alberta / 5 / Edmonton, AB / Business
D / Tammer Byrne / Fraser Valley / 5 / Abbotsford, BC / Kinesiology
D / Noah Cunningham / Alberta / 3 / St. Albert, AB / Education
D / Connor Guilherme / UBC / 3 / Thunder Bay, ON / Science
D / Janko Vong / Alberta / 3 / Coquitlam, BC / Science
D / Gordon Hall / UNBC / 5 / Chilliwack, BC / Forest Ecology & Management
M / Thomas Gardner / UBC / 1 / North Vancouver, BC / Arts
F / Ajeej Sarkaria / Alberta / 3 / Edmonton, AB / Business
F / Gurmaan Jhaj / Fraser Valley / 4 / Aldergrove, BC / Qualifying Studies
F / Easton Ongaro / Alberta / 2 / Edmonton, AB / Arts
F / Joel Waterman / Trinity Western / 5 / Aldergrove, BC / Media & Communication

Position / Name / University / Eligibility / Hometown / Program

GK / Jason Roberts / UBC / 4 / Richmond, BC / Arts
D / Jan Pirretas Glasmacher / Thompson Rivers / 2 / Barcelona, ESP / Business
D / Ivan Borka / Alberta / 5 / Winnipeg, MB / Engineering
D / Riley Pang / UBC / 3 / Richmond, BC / Arts
D / Ryan Doering / Calgary / 5 / Calgary, AB / Science
D / Daniel Harrison / Mount Royal / 3 / Calgary, AB / Arts
F / Caleb Clarke / UBC / 5 / Vancouver, BC / Arts
F / Nikolas Baikas / Saskatchewan / 1 / Saskatoon, SK / Arts & Science
F / Kristian Yli-Hietanen / UBC / 4 / North Vancouver, BC / Arts
F / Sean Einarsson / UBC / 4 / Surrey, BC / Unclassified
F / Moe El Gandour / Mount Royal / 1 / Calgary, AB / Business

NOTE: The all-star teams consist of one goalkeeper, five defending players, and five attacking players.

Position / Name / University / Hometown / Program

D / Daniel Kaiser / UBC / Calgary, AB / Arts
D / Sahib Sidhu / Fraser Valley / Surrey, BC / Kinesiology
D / Morgan Graham / Alberta / Edmonton, AB / Open Studies
M / Thomas Gardner / UBC / North Vancouver, BC / Arts
M / Nick Fussell / UBC / Surrey, BC / Business
F / Nikolas Baikas / Saskatchewan / Saskatoon, SK / Arts & Science
F / Matteo Ventura / Victoria / Prince Rupert, BC / Humanities
F / Everett Orgnero / MacEwan / Calgary, AB / Arts
F / Moe El Gandour / Mount Royal / Calgary, AB / Business
F / Derek Brust / Calgary / Calgary, AB / Engineering
F / Andrew Peat / Fraser Valley / Coquitlam, BC / Qualifying Studies

NOTE: The all-rookie team consists of the top 11 first-year players, regardless of position.