VANCOUVER –
Eric Lajeunesse has been named Canada West Defensive Player of the Year while
Mike Mosher has earned Coach of the Year honours as the conference unveiled its 2025 Men's Soccer major awards Wednesday.
An award introduced just two years ago, the Defensive Player of the Year nod for Lajeunesse marks a first for UBC while Mosher's Coach of the Year award is his fourth, last winning the conference honour in 2015.
There has not been a steadier, more reliable rock for the UBC Thunderbirds over the past number of years than
Eric Lajeunesse.
A two-time All-Canadian and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Award winner in 2022, the Ottawa native can take a large share of responsibility for the Thunderbirds allowing a conference low eight goals against this season while also going undefeated with nine clean sheets.
Playing every minute of every game in 2025 for the defending national champions, Lajeunesse has also helped lead UBC to a pair of clean sheet playoff victories, punching their ticket into a tenth consecutive Canada West final along with a berth at the upcoming national championship tournament.
A notable piece for Pacific FC of the CPL once again this past summer, Lajeunesse was also named a 2024 U SPORTS tournament All-Star after helping the 'Birds to their first national title in 11 years.
"Obviously he's been terrific each and every year he's been here, but this year in particular has been a completely different level, he's been outstanding," said Mosher of his all-star defender. "Without a doubt, he's our MVP. Defenders don't often get their due but I would see Eric as perhaps the MVP of the entire country, he's that good.
"He's got one more year with us to finish his degree and we're going to do everything we can to support him and hopefully be at as high a level of play as he might be able to get to in the coming years because I think he's just that good of a player. His habits are as good as any player I've ever had."
In this his 30
th season at the helm of the UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer program
Mike Mosher accomplished something that had never been done in the history of the Canada West: produce a 15-win, undefeated season.
Leading the defending national champion Thunderbirds into a tenth consecutive Canada West Final this weekend, Mosher's squad led the conference this year with 44 goals while also boasting a CW best eight against.
"Mike has proven time and again to be one of the greatest soccer coaches this country has produced," said UBC Managing Director of Athletics,
Kavie Toor. "His championships and overall levels of success speak for themselves, as do the incredible number of program alumni who continue to make UBC proud as leaders in their own right both on and off the pitch. To set new win records in 2025 given all he has achieved over the past three decades plus with the Thunderbirds is a testament to his passion and dedication. We're so very proud of Mike's many achievements and excited for the many more yet to come."
A former T-Bird player himself, Mosher has guided his team to five U SPORTS National Championship banners as a head coach along with 12 Canada West titles including six of the last seven. Racking up 249 total conference wins to date, this is Mosher's fourth Canada West Coach of the Year nod, having last received the honour in 2015.
The 'Birds head to Calgary this weekend to face the Mount Royal Cougars for the Canada West Crown, the third straight year the two have battled in the conference final. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. PT Saturday, November 1.
2025 Canada West Women's Soccer Major Awards
Player of the Year
Mateo Brazinha, Fraser Valley
Rookie of the Year
Chanan Chanda, Mount Royal
Defensive Player of the Year
Eric Lajeunesse, UBC
Coach of the Year
Mike Mosher, UBC
