UBC's Brad Richardson (top) and SFU's Niko Papakyriakopoulos were in dogged pursuit of a loose ball Friday as SFU hosted UBC at Fox Field. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of Varsity Letters 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Soccer

SFU vs. UBC: Friday’s men’s soccer derby clash at new Fox Field Stadium proves nothing has wilted in Lower Mainland’s oldest cross-town rivalry!

BURNABY — The Lower Mainland’s most enduring university men’s soccer rivalry unfolded Friday evening as it always has, and the best part of all? It had nothing to do with the final score.Simon Fraser against visiting UBC within the home team’s new stadium complex at Terry Fox Field, complete with an actual rousing crowd.“It’s massive,” […]

Fraser Valley Cascades central defender Sahib Sidhu has come to represent the true essence of the student-athlete as both a rising star with men's soccer team and a top scholar at the Abbotsford school. (Photo by Dan Kinvig property of University of the Fraser Valley athletics 2020. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Soccer

He’s a Big’un! Yet these days, it’s not just size and physicality that makes UFV Cascades’ centre back Sahib Sidhu a force to be reckoned with

ABBOTSFORD — His nickname is Big’un, and it’s one that University of the Fraser Valley central defender Sahib Sidhu has worn every bit as naturally as the spacious No. 22 Cascades’ jersey he first pulled on in the fall of 2018.“When they come in as first-years, you look at them and you say ‘That’s a […]

Over a UBC soccer career in which he has taken a redshirt season and a two-year sabbatical, Surrey's Sean Einarsson is looking to win a national title for the first time since 2013. The 'Birds journey continues this week with the Legend's Cup series against Victoria. (Photo by Ben Nelms property of UBC athletics 2019. All rights reserved)
Feature University Men's Soccer

Book-ends forged in gold? For UBC midfielder Sean Einarsson, a return to Thunderbird nation could well include a fairy-tale finish!

VANCOUVER —  When Sean Einarsson decided to return to the home of Canada’s most decorated men’s university soccer program two seasons ago, it was with the hope that he could fashion a finish to his career which would be every bit as satisfying as its storybook start.It was back in 2013 when the redshirt freshman […]

TWU midfielder Domenic Poletto, while still nursing his way back to the lineup following a torn ACL, is all smiles about the future of Spartans' soccer and its class of blue-chip freshen players. (Photo by Scott Stewart property of Trinity Western athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Soccer

Renaissance in Sparta: Through the eyes of injured vet Poletto, blue-chip rookie class symbolizes a re-birth for Trinity Western men’s soccer

LANGLEY — Domenic Poletto was at a career crossroads late this past summer, but getting a chance to see the future of Spartans’ men’s soccer has him counting the days until his official return.Trinity Western’s leading point-getter a season ago as a standout central midfielder, Poletto had been a driving force in the resurgence of […]

UBC Thunderbirds players mob teammate Victory Shumbusho (9) after his second-half goal proved to be the winner in a 2-0 triumph over the host UFV Cascades on Friday in Abbotsford. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Soccer

UBC soccer coach Mike Mosher opens season No. 24 at the helm liking what he sees in 2-0 win over Fraser Valley Cascades

ABBOTSFORD — Point out to the seasoned general that he’s just opened up his 24th season of Canada West coaching with the UBC Thunderbirds, and Mike Mosher smiles before admitting that after a near-quarter century at the helm, you learn to trust your eyes.And what Mosher saw Friday from his team during a conference-opening 2-0 win […]

UBC Thunderbirds freshman Thomas Gardner in the first player in the history of Canada West men's soccer to win Top Rookie and Player of the Year in the same season. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics)
Feature University Men's Soccer

As UBC hosts U Sports 2018 Soccer Nationals, rookie sensation Gardner embraces his new Thunderbird life on a road less traveled

VANCOUVER — Maybe the highest compliment you can pay Thomas Gardner is to say that, whether your soccer eye is completely untrained or of connoisseur class, you simply have to watch him play to love his game.

UFV Cascades' Gurmaan Jhaj attempts to split through the UBC defence during Canada West action earlier this season. With Jhaj igniting the offence, UFV is the only team in Canada West to take point from the Thunderbirds this season. (Photo by Dan Kinvig property of UFV Cascades' athletics)
Feature University Men's Soccer

UFV’s Gurmaan Jhaj: Whether in sport, the classroom or in business, Cascades’ striker is all about his goals

ABBOTSFORD — Gurmaan Jhaj may have just turned 22, but he’s already an expert in sharpening the saw and building success brick by brick.

Trinity Western's fifth-year senior midfielder Joel Waterman (right) wants to help lead the Spartans back to the U Sports' national championship tournament. (Photo courtesy UBC Okanagan athletics)
Feature University Men's Soccer

Joel Waterman: TWU’s tide is high and so are its hopes as Spartans’ soccer feeds off the presence and purpose its fifth-year leader

LANGLEY — It may be the simplest game of Xs and Os ever invented, yet the ability to consistently win in the ancient discipline of tic-tac-toe doesn’t come without a complex level of sureness and clarity, which in intangible terms, might be best described as having an instant presence.

Victory Shumbusho (left) solidified UBC's talented young core of stars Thursday by being named the Canada West's Rookie of the Year. (UBC athletics photo)
Feature University Men's Soccer

Kardiac Kids? Mosher’s baby soccer ‘Birds leave nest in time to host Canada West Final 4

VANCOUVER — It seems fitting that if you had to pick one all-telling moment over the course of the regular season which best spoke to the identity of the 2017 UBC Thunderbirds men’s soccer team, it would involve one of the team’s gaggle of young players

(Scott Stewart, TWU athletics)
TWU's head men's soccer coach Mike Shearon will speak to his philosophies at the Spartans' Complete Champion coaching symposium Friday at the Langley Events Centre. (Scott Stewart, TWU athletics)
Feature University Men's Soccer

Mike Shearon: TWU men’s soccer boss speaks on ‘Coaching out of love’ at Spartans’ Complete Champion symposium

LANGLEY — For those like Mike Shearon, who endure and make coaching their life’s work, there comes a time when the ideas collected and the perspectives gained are distilled into a focused credo otherwise known as a coaching philosophy.