NewsSportsAll-Star recognition for two UNBC soccer players SHARE ON: Hartley Miller, staff Thursday, Nov. 2nd, 2017 Photo Courtesy of UNBC AthleticsFor the first time, the UNBC Timberwolves have two athletes named to the Canada West Conference Second All-Star team in men’s soccer.Midfielder Tofa Fakunle and defender Gordon Hall are among 11 players that earned the honour.In addition, Hall is the first UNBC player to be named an all-star twice since the Timberwolves joined U-Sports.Fakunle, a fifth-year from Calgary, led the 5-5-6 Timberwolves in points with seven, including three goals.“It’s my last year, so to be voted in by the coaches is a good feeling. 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,” said Fakunle in a team release.Hall, a fourth-year from Chilliwack, is a premier centre-back who helped the Timberwolves cut their goals against in half this season; 34 in 2016 to 17 in 2017.He also scored twice, the first goals of his UNBC career.“It’s nice to be recognized for what you do the pitch. My teammates help me to push further, and our coaching staff, Steve Simonson and Rob Lewis, do an excellent job holding me to a high standard,” said Hall.Photo Courtesy of UNBC AthleticsThe full 2017 Canada West conference all-stars and award winners are as follows:FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM:Noah Cunningham – Alberta Connor James – Alberta Ajeej Sarkaria – Alberta Bruno Zebie – Alberta Bori Falaye – Calgary Jacob Powell – Saskatchewan Mitchell Popadynetz – TRU Elie Gindo – Trinity Western Bori Falaye – Calgary Victory Shumbusho – UBC Hamish Walde – UBCO Isaac Koch – VictoriaSECOND ALL-STAR TEAM:Tolu Esan – Alberta Ajay Khabra – Alberta Sam Gagne – Calgary Jeff Blake – MRU Ryan Glanville – TRU Finlay McPhie – TRU Leighton Johnson – Trinity Western Connor Guilherme – UBC Mitch McCaw – UBCO Tofa Fakunle – UNBC Gordon Hall – UNBCCANADA WEST AWARDS:MVP = Mitchell Popadynetz – TRU Rookie of the Year = Victory Shumbusho – UBC Coach of the Year = Mike Shearon – Trinity Western Student-Athlete Community = Tolu Esan – Alberta Fair Play = Victoria VikesWOMEN’S SOCCERFIRST ALL-STAR TEAM:Sydney Daines – Alberta Jamie Pasemko – Alberta Talia White – Calgary Leesa Eggum – Saskatchewan Jennifer Miller – Saskatchewan Seina Kashima – Trinity Western Jasmin Dhanda – UBC Aman Shergill – UBC Elise Butler – Victoria Emily Lieuwen – Victoria Puck Louwes – VictoriaSECOND ALL-STAR TEAM:Karissa McNutt – Alberta Lauren Houghton – Calgary Kayla Kreutzer – Calgary Montana Leonard – Calgary Nikki Furukawa – Lethbridge Quinn Hardstaff – MRU Brooklyn Tidder – Trinity Western Amy Gartke – Trinity Western Karlee Pedersen – UFV Kiara Kilbey – Victoria Steph Badilla-Gutierrez – VictoriaCANADA WEST AWARDS:MVP = Jasmin Dhanda – UBC Rookie of the Year = Brooke Lang – Alberta Coach of the Year = Liz Jepsen – Alberta Student-Athlete Community = Kristen Skruntz – MacEwan Fair Play = Victoria Vikes / Alberta Pandas
