Whitecaps to Attend UBC in the Fall
August 13, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with the University of British Columbia, announced today that Whitecaps Residency players William Hyde, Greg Smith, and Simon Thomas will join Whitecaps Prospects players Ashley Ankiewicz, Harry Lakhan, and Matt Robinson in attending UBC.
All six players will play their freshman seasons with the Thunderbirds men's soccer team this fall and look to make an immediate impact with Mike Mosher's talented UBC squad.
"It is always really nice to get players from the Whitecaps Residency and Prospects programs," said Mosher. "They are not only very skilled but they also come with great training practices. These developmental programs are going to pay great dividends to Canadian soccer not only at the CIS level but also at the pro level for the 'Caps and the international level for Canada as they continue to grow."
Hyde, 18-years-old, joins UBC after playing the 2009 United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) season with the Residency team. The Oakville, Ontario, native made three PDL appearances for 261 minutes of action this term and six appearance in 2008. The defender, who can also play in midfield, was a member of Canada's U-17 national team in 2007.
Smith, 19, will join the Thunderbirds after playing the 2008-09 season on loan with German club FC Energie Cottbus from the Residency program. Born in White Rock, BC, but raised in North Vancouver, BC, Smith played in the three FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifying games in April 2007. He was also a member of the Canadian U-17 squad that played in the Ballymena International Tournament in Northern Ireland and the Caribbean Youth Cup in 2006.
Thomas, 19, made six PDL appearances in goal for the Residency team this season, boasting a 1.09 goals-against average in 495 minutes of action. In March 2009, the Victoria, BC, native joined Residency teammates Gagandeep Dosanjh and Alex Semenets in making the men's team's historic preseason trip to the United Republic of Tanzania.
Ankiewicz, 18, is a defender/midfielder with the Prospects team, which is currently led by head coach Bart Choufour. He currently resides in North Vancouver, BC. Lakhan, 18, is also a defender/midfielder with the Prospects side and currently resides in Surrey, BC. Robinson, 18, is a Prospects goalkeeper who currently resides in Vancouver, BC.
Meanwhile, âCaps PDL defender Graham Smith has also returned to UBC to complete his fifth and final year in CIS men's soccer with the Thunderbirds. This summer, Smith made three PDL appearances for 270 minutes of action with the Residency team, recording one assist.
The Thunderbirds look to repeat a successful 2008 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) season, in which they finished tied for first place in the Canada West regular season standings. They open their CIS schedule on the road in Edmonton on September 12 against the Alberta Golden Bears. Training camp begins this Friday at UBC's Thunderbird Park.
USL First Division Stories from August 13, 2009
- Miami FC Returns to Lockhart for Playoff Push - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps to Attend UBC in the Fall - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Knowles to Miss Rest of Season with Injury - Portland Timbers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
