Account Login/Registration

Access KelownaNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below.


Facebook


OR


Register

Privacy Policy

Two late signings for UBCO Heat men's soccer team

A pair of Surrey-groomed products brings to seven the number of fresh recruits for the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s soccer team this fall.

Liam Foulger, a centre back, and Nikhil Reddy, a midfielder, are the newest signees for the 2016-17 CIS Canada West season beginning Aug. 27 on home field against the University of Victoria Vikes.

<who>Contributed </who>Liam Foulger of Surrey newest Heat centre back.Foulger, a graduate of Prince of Wales Mini School in Vancouver and the Surrey United program, has played for the B.C. Soccer provincial team (captain in 2014) and for the past two years with the United team that reached the U18 Provincial Premier final and won the title in 2015.

Head coach Dante Zanatta and his coaching staff are pleased they were able to attract a talent like Foulger late in the recruiting season. They were looking specifically to replace graduated fifth-year centre-back, Harrison Shrimpton.

"Liam is very good in the air; he’s able to play at either side of the CB [centre-back] pairing; and he has the ability to play a good exit pass out of the back,” said Zanatta. “With his addition, we’ll have a great battle in the pre-season to see who steps up for a starting spot.”

Coming to UBC Okanagan to study Human Kinetics, Foulger says the academic side of his college career was as big a factor in the decision as was athletics. He chose UBCO “because it was a good fit academically, one of the top schools in the country with programs I wanted, and athletically because there is a great coach with a good team bringing in lots of quality players.”

“I’m super grateful and excited for the opportunity to play and study at UBCO,” said Foulger after having signed with the Heat. “I look forward to making a positive impact on the team.”

<who>Contributed </who>Midfielder Nikhil Reddy will join former teammate at UBCO. Meanwhile, Reddy spent five successful seasons in the Vancouver Whitecaps minor system, while he returned to his Surrey FC side this past season.

Reddy, a 5-foot-8 midfielder, sees his game-changing passes through the middle and his solid defensive play as his major attributes.

“Along with my consistency, I believe I possess a high in-game IQ that allows me to read the game quicker than many other players,” notes Reddy. “Coming in as a freshman I’m excited to have the opportunity to make an impact in every game this upcoming season and to help UBCO become one of the best teams in the CIS.”

Coach Zanatta believes he has found a good fit with Reddy for his Heat squad.

"Nikhil has all the qualities we’re looking for in a midfielder that our team requires to make the step up in Canada West soccer, especially with the losses of Manny Straith and Dylan Abbott."

"We look forward to working with Nikhil and helping him raise the level of his game," added Zanatta, entering his sixth season with the team.

A former teammate also helped Nikhil make his decision to join the Heat.

“I am looking forward to playing alongside Jeevin Kang, who I have played with at Surrey United and the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency,” noted Reddy. “Jeevin brings that balance to the midfield that allows me to attack further up the pitch, but he can also attack while I sit back and keep the balance. I believe having played with him before brings the chemistry that will bring out the best in both of us."

Heat Schedule



If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.

If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.


Weather
webcam icon

weather-icon
Mon
8℃

weather-icon
Tue
9℃

weather-icon
Wed
10℃

weather-icon
Thu
10℃

weather-icon
Fri
4℃

weather-icon
Sat
5℃

current feed webcam icon

Recent Livestream




Top Stories

Follow Us

Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Linkedin Follow us on Youtube Listen on Soundcloud Follow Our TikTok Feed Follow Our RSS Follow Our pinterest Feed
Follow Our Newsletter
Privacy Policy