UNBC players get Canada West nod
Two members of the UNBC Timberwolves men’s soccer team have been chosen as Canada West second-team all-stars.
The honours, announced Thursday, went to fifth-year midfielder Tofa Fakunle and fourth-year defender Gordon Hall. Together, they helped the Timberwolves make the playoffs for the first time in their six-year Canada West history.
Fakunle, from Calgary, tied for the team lead in goals (three) and assists (four) and had the most points on the club. Overall, he tied for 12th place in Canada West. Fakunle also finished the season ninth in the conference in shots and fifth in shots on goal. This is the first Canada West award of his career.
“It’s my last year, so to be voted in by the coaches is a good feeling,” he said.
“My teammates push me to try to be better each and every day and when I’m not bringing my best they motivate me to be better. Over the last five years I have grown a lot. Coach Steve (Simonson) has helped me to see the game differently and I owe the UNBC athletic department a lot for helping me get better on and off the pitch.”
Hall, meanwhile, is now a Canada West all-star for the second consecutive season. The Chilliwack product has emerged as one of the top centre-backs in the conference and also added a pair of goals this year – the first of his UNBC career.
“It’s nice to be recognized for what you do the pitch,” he said. “My teammates help me to push further, and our coach- ing staff, Steve Simonson and Rob Lewis, do an excellent job holding me to a high standard. Steve has helped me to stay focused all the time and put in 100 per cent effort all the time.”
Fakunle and Hall become the first UNBC teammates to be honoured by Canada West in the same season, while Hall becomes the first two-time winner in school history.
The Timberwolves completed the season with a 5-5-6 record, good for fourth place in the Pacific Division. UNBC clinched the final playoff berth in the division and was eliminated from the postseason after a 3-0 quarterfinal loss to the Alberta Golden Bears last Saturday. The Bears came into the match as the defending national champion and finished this season with a 9-1-4 record, tops in the Prairie Division.