The University of British Columbia Athletics

VANCOUVER – Coming off a national championship and an undefeated season, UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer coach Mike Mosher has brought in an impressive six-player recruiting class that features a mix of local, national and international experience.
 
Adriano Clemente (Burnaby, BC), Niall Cousens (Vancouver, BC), Andrew Grange (Surrey, BC), Luigi Polisi (Coquitlam, BC), Mitchell Popadynetz (Nelson, BC) and Otis Sandhu (Surrey, BC) will all be joining the Canadian Interuniversity Sport champions for the 2013 season.
 
Clemente, Polisi, Popadynetz and Sandhu are all with Team B.C. competing at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que.
 
"We're really excited about the players coming into our program," said Mosher. "It's not an easy team or program to come into and make so we've been pretty selective."
 
NIALL COUSENS (6'4" forward, Vancouver, BC)
 
Cousens, a 6-foot-4 striker from Vancouver, was named to the USL Premier Development League (PDL) All-Western Conference team after scoring eight goals and four assists in 13 games for the Vancouver Whitecaps Under-23 squad.
 
"I am very excited to be able to study and play at home," said Cousens. "You have the best of both worlds at UBC, being able to train and play soccer at a high level while having fantastic academic opportunities and programs to take advantage of. It's a great place to be and I'm looking forward to helping UBC work towards another national championship."
 
Before coming home to Vancouver, Cousens spent three years playing professionally in the Czech Republic. In 2009, he signed a contract with SK Slavia Prague, a member of the country's top league, at the age of 19. Cousens was eventually loaned to Hlucin FC, a second-division outfit.
 
He was also named to the Canadian Men's Under-20 National Team in 2010.
 
"A player like Niall Cousens should come in and have an immediate impact as he's a little bit older," said Mosher. "It's tough to break into an established team, a national championship squad but given his background, his experience and his good summer playing for the Whitecaps PDL team, we look forward to him competing for a starting position."
 
ADRIANO CLEMENTE (6'0" defender, Burnaby, BC)
 
A 6-foot centre back, Clemente attended Vancouver's Notre Dame Regional High School and played club soccer with Mountain United.
 
"I'm excited to take the next step in my life academically and athletically," said Clemente. "UBC is a world-class university and I know that by choosing UBC, it will help me achieve my dream of becoming a sports psychologist.
 
"I respect the coaching style of coach Mosher and I know the UBC Thunderbirds will be a good fit for me and I feel honoured to have been asked to be a part of a great tradition of excellence in soccer and academics."
 
"Adriano is a strong kid who can play a lot of different positions," commented Mosher. "Physically, he is ready to play at this level."
 
Clemente was also a member of the B.C. Provincial team at the U-16 and U-15 levels and he played for Team B.C. at the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games.
 
In 2010, Clemente was named to the National Training Centre West roster.
 
ANDREW GRANGE (5'11" defender, Surrey, BC)
 
Grange, a 5-foot-11 left fullback, spent a good chunk of 2013 in Germany playing with the Under-19 squad of SC Fürstenfeldbruck.
 
"I'm sure that was a terrific experience, which helps to prepare him more and more to play at the next level," said Mosher.
 
Before heading overseas, Grange honed his game with Fusion FC. He's also a graduate of Burnaby's St. Thomas More Collegiate.
 
"I am looking forward to the challenge that UBC, the Sauder School of Business and the soccer program will provide," said Grange. "I am honoured to have the opportunity to be a part of a such successful championship-winning program."
 
MITCHELL POPADYNETZ (5'10" midfielder, Nelson, BC)
 
Popadynetz is originally from Nelson and started the sport playing for Nelson Youth Soccer. He continued to excel after moving to Maple Ridge. The 5-foot-10 midfielder won the Golden Boot (five goals) and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2011 Y-League North American finals in Brandon, Florida.
 
"I'm excited to go to one of the best schools in the country in UBC and join Canada's best university soccer team," said Popadynetz.
 
LUIGI POLISI (5'8" midfielder, Coquitlam, BC)
 
Polisi is another member of the National Training Centre West who is coming to UBC. He's a 5-foot-8 central midfielder who attended Dr. Charles Best Secondary in Coquitlam.
 
"I love soccer and UBC is the best team to play for in the country, as well, UBC is a well-regarded university," said Polisi. "I look forward to going to the beautiful campus."
 
OTIS SANDHU (6'0" forward, Surrey, BC)
 
The 6-foot Sandhu is a graduate of Surrey's Panorama Ridge Secondary and is another player who brings international experience to UBC having spent time in the youth systems of both Vicenza Calcio (Italy) and Stevenage FC (England).
 
"UBC is a prestigious university that offers a great education," explained Sandhu on his decision to enroll at UBC. "Being able to play the game I love whilst achieving a great education excites me. I look forward to my time at this university."
 
Polisi, Popadynetz and Sandhu all played club soccer for Coquitlam Metro-Ford and were members of the Under-18 team that won the B.C. Soccer Provincial Premier Cup over Mountain United on June 29.
 
"Competition for spots is always fierce, but we definitely see these players as impact players in the years to come given their backgrounds," said Mosher.  "We have three guys who've already won provincial championships this year and are at the Canada Games. The Coquitlam Metro-Ford program has been excellent in terms of producing players. We expect good things from Otis, Luigi and Mitchell given the environments they've been in."
 
UBC will begin the 2013 Canada West regular season on Sept. 6 with a road game at Victoria. The team's first home match will take place two days later on David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium against Fraser Valley.
 
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