Ajeej Sarkaria NEW WESTMINSTER – Alberta Golden Bears scoring star Ajeej Sarkaria is the 2016 Canada West Men’s Soccer Player of the Year. Sarkaria was named as the conference’s top player Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s Canada West Men’s Soccer Final Four at Foote Field in Edmonton. The first-year Golden Bear set the conference single-season scoring record with 19 tallies this season, leading the Bears to a 13-1-2 regular season mark – the best in the conference. Sarkaria is also the first Bear to win the award since Junior Castrillon-Rendon in 2006. Joining Sarkaria as a major award winner from Alberta is 33-year veteran Len Vickery as Coach of the Year.  The win marks Vickery’s third Canada West Coach of the Year award after previously winning in 1993 and 2006.  The 2016 Canada West Rookie of the Year is Bori Falaye from the Calgary Dinos. Falaye, a product of the Calgary Southwest United program, finished third in conference scoring with seven goals and five assists. He is just the second Dino to win the conference award, after JP Khouri won it back in 1997. Rounding out the major award winners is Lethbridge’s Cormac Southam, who is the Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner. The two-time Academic All-Canadian's work includes tutoring first-year university students, coaching youth soccer, along with serving on the university’s student-athlete advisory committee. All conference major awards were selected by the 14 Canada West men’s soccer head coaches. Also honoured were the Bears and Victoria Vikes as the conference’s Fair Play Award co-recipients, by virtue of having tied for the best sportsmanship record during the regular season. The 2016 Canada West Men’s Soccer Final Four opens Saturday, November 5 with semifinal action, before the medal round on Sunday.  You can watch the full tournament by visiting CanadaWest.tv AJEEJ SARKARIA – Player of the Year Alberta Golden Bears Ajeej Sarkaria, the record-setting striker for the second-ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears soccer team, is the 2016-17 Canada West Player of the Year. The first-year Golden Bear scored a single-season conference record 19 goals in 16 games, while also adding six assists to set a new single-season Canada West record in points as well, with 25.  Sarkaria was actually held off the scoresheet just five times in conference play this season, including the first two games of the season, both in August. He then proceeded to tally 14 goals and 18 points in just seven games during the month of September. October saw him register another five goals and seven points to break the Canada West single season goals (15) and points (21) records, which were established in 2015 and 2012 respectively. The Edmonton product also led CIS men’s soccer in goals and assists as well. “Ajeej has had a phenomenal year leading the Golden Bears attack. The team has been the major benefactor of Ajeej's outstanding season, and his goals have helped propel our team to a first place finish in Canada West with a 14-1-2 record,” said Bears coach Len Vickery. “As most coaches would attest a goal scorer in form is an absolute tonic for any team's attacking play, and Ajeej has had that kind of impact this season.” LEN VICKERY – Coach of the Year Alberta Golden Bears Long-standing University of Alberta Golden Bears soccer head coach Len Vickery has been chosen by his peers as the 2016-17 Canada West Coach of the Year. Vickery, a veteran of 33 years along the Alberta sideline, guided the Golden Bears to a Canada West best 13-1-2 regular season record, as well as a hosting rights for the conference Final Four championship. The Golden Bears only lost one game all conference season, which came after they had clinched first place overall in the conference. Alberta scored the second most goals in conference play, with 30, and gave up the second fewest as well, with only 14 slipping past in 16 games. This win represents the third time the U of A coach has won the award, following triumphs in 1993 and 2006.  “Len Vickery is synonymous with elite soccer in Edmonton, Alberta and throughout Canada West and CIS,” said Alberta athletic director Ian Reade. “What he has accomplished this season, and continues to accomplish after over 30 years of coaching is remarkable. He still has the same passion, drive and desire to be the best, which is why his fellow coaches have recognized him this season. His outstanding work at the helm of the Golden Bears program this season deserves recognition, and Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics is very proud of him, and happy to see him honoured by his fellow Canada West coaches.” 2016 Canada West Men’s Soccer First Team All-Stars Position / Name / School / Year / Hometown / Program GK / Mitch McCaw / UBCO / 4 / Calgary, AB / Management DEF / Bryan Fong / UBC / 5 / Vancouver, BC / Kinesiology DEF / Niko Saler / Alberta / 5 / Lethbridge, AB / Graduate Studies & Research DEF / Dominick Zator / Calgary / 5 / Calgary, AB / Business DEF / Tammer Byrne / Fraser Valley / 3 / Abbotsford, BC / Kinesiology DEF / Tyler Mertens / UBC / 5 / Port Coquitlam, BC / Business OFF / Dominic Russo / Calgary / 5 / Calgary, AB / Arts & Business OFF / Ajeej Sarkaria / Alberta / 1 / Edmonton, AB / Arts OFF / Titouan Chopin / UBC / 2 / Kaslo, BC / Arts OFF / Elijah Adekugbe / Trinity Western / 3 / Calgary, AB / Business Administration OFF / Ryan Glanville / Thompson Rivers / 4 / Williams Lake, BC / MBA 2016 Canada West Men’s Soccer Second Team All-Stars Position / Name / School / Year / Hometown / Program GK / Connor James / Alberta / 3 / Edmonton, AB / Business DEF / Bruno Zebie / Alberta / 2 / Paris, France / Physical Education & Recreation DEF / Tyrin Hutchings / Mount Royal / 5 / Calgary, AB / Arts DEF / Noah Cunningham / Alberta / 1 / St. Albert, AB / Education DEF / Jacob Powell / Saskatchewan / 2/ Vancouver, BC / Business DEF / Gordon Hall / UNBC / 3 / Chilliwack, BC / Forest Ecology & Management OFF / Cody Cook / Mount Royal / 5 / Cranbrook, BC / Business Administration OFF / Bori Falaye / Calgary / 1 / Calgary, AB / Engineering OFF / Daniel Davidson / Fraser Valley / 3 / Abbotsford, BC / Criminology OFF / Chris Rushworth / Lethbridge / 5 / Cranbrook, BC / Management OFF / Mitch Bauche / Saskatchewan / 5 / Saskatoon, SK / Engineering Share this story Top stories from UAlberta