The Golden Bears soccer team will open their 2022 schedule with a pair of home contests at Foote Field this weekend, as they host the Calgary Dinos and Mount Royal Cougars. 

Led by head coach Martin Fenger-Andersen, the Alberta men went 4-1-5 last fall, eventually losing in the CW Quarter-Final to the Fraser Valley Cascades.

Looking to qualify for their first U SPORTS Championship since winning their fifth national title in 2016, the Bears are returning key athletes such as 2021 Team MVP Liam Collens , along with veterans Jake Bosch, Rilind Idrizi, and David Chung.

Two-time Canada West All-Star, and 2016 National Champion Janko Vong is also returning to the Evergreen & Gold this season, after getting accepted into medical school. The Bears also brought in a highly-touted crop of recruits to supplement their veteran roster. 

Canada West returned to its standard schedule and standings format for the 2022 season, which will see Alberta play 14 conference games this fall. 


 

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BEARS SEASON PREVIEW

2021 CW regular season record: /4-1-5/, 2^nd in Central Division
2021 post-season record: /0-1/, Quarter-Final loss
Head Coach: Martin Fenger-Andersen (4th season) / 9-7-8 Career CW reg. season record
 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2016 / 11
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2016 / 5
 
2021 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 11 goals, 10^th
Defence: 4 goals against, 1^st
 
2021 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Goals: 1 – Rilind Idrizi, Midfield
Assists: 1 – Jake Bosch, Midfield
Points: 1 – Jake Bosch, Midfield / Rilind Idrizi, Midfield
Wins: 4 – Liam Collens, Goalkeeper
Shutouts: 6 – Liam Collens, Goalkeeper
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Habib Assem / Striker / 1 / Edmonton, AB / SW Sting
Thomas Hope / Midfield / 1 / Edmonton, AB / Victoria Highlanders
Mahdi Hammoud / Striker / 1 / Edmonton, AB / SV09 Arnstadt
Joel Martins-Correia / Centre Back / 1 / Edmonton, AB / Internazionale Soccer Club
Juan Rea / Fullback / 1 / Winnipeg, MB / Luciana FC
 
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Ajeej Sarkaria / Forward / Edmonton, AB / 4
Noah Cunningham / Defence / St. Albert, AB / 5
Matthew Miki / Midfield / North Vancouver, BC / 4
Carlos Patino / Midfield / Tulua, Columbia / 1

Key performer:  
Liam Collens
Goalkeeper
Third-Year
Calgary, AB
2021 Stats: 4-1-5 / 6 shutouts / 0.40 GAA / 0.915 Save Percentage
 
Coming off a stellar sophomore season, one in which he led Canada West in fewest goals against average, third-year Bears keeper Liam Collens will once again be counted upon to carry the load in 2022.
 
With veteran offensive players such as CW all-time scoring leader Ajeej Sarkaria graduating from the program, the Bears defence will need to be as stellar was it was in 2021.
 
Collens, a Calgary product, also led CW in both shutouts, with six, and save percentage last season (.915), his first as a full-time starter.