Following a highly successful third year of the girls showcase, Vancouver Whitecaps FC kick off the first edition of the boys College Showcase this weekend at Surrey’s Newton Athletic Park.
“The College Showcase is a great way for aspiring players to get recognized not only by university and college scouts, but also by our own Whitecaps FC Residency staff,” said Dan Lenarduzzi, Whitecaps FC director of soccer development. “We look forward to a terrific event this weekend.”
The showcase kicks off on Friday with a full day of EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) action, as 14 matches will take place in the U-15 to U-17/18 age groups. In addition to all BCSPL teams, Alberta-based clubs National Sports Development SC, Calgary Foothills FC, Calgary South West United, Calgary Villains FC, and Internazionale SC, as well as Nova Scotia’s Halifax City Soccer Club and American club Tynecastle FC from Washington will also all take part. The full schedule with updated results for the showcase can be found HERE.
Saturday’s schedule will be headlined by three matches featuring Whitecaps FC Residency squads. The U-14 Residency team starts things off at 9 a.m. against Surrey United U-15 boys of the BCSPL. Following that, the ‘Caps will play their United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) on Field #1. First, the U-18 Residency squad hit the field against De Anza Force U-17/18 at 11:30 a.m. before the U-16 Residency team faces De Anza Force U-15/16 at 2 p.m. PT.
While many schools will be on hand to scout talent, Simon Fraser University have already secured two Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency players for their upcoming National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season, with midfielder Alex Rowley and defender Jason Van Blerk set to play for the Clan this fall.
"Alex is a blue-collar midfielder. He is willing to do a lot of the dirty work to help the players around him, but he also has the finesse to get us playing and I look forward to seeing how he fares in training camp,” said Alan Koch, SFU head coach. "Jason is a versatile defender who can play centrally or as a full-back. He is a tough, uncompromising defender that has the size, speed, and strength to be a major player in the NCAA.”
The full list of schools attending this year’s Whitecaps FC College Showcase can be found HERE.
