McGill's Scholefield to play for Canada at World University Games

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McGill's Scholefield to play for Canada at World University Games

Published: 4 June 2009

MONTREAL 鈥� McGill midfielder Jamie Scholefield of Senneville, Que., is among 18 players selected to represent Canada in men鈥檚 soccer at the 25th World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, July 1-12.

The 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior is a four-time conference all-star and twice earned all-Canadian second-team honours. Last fall, he tied for the team scoring lead and finished fourth among league leaders with four goals in 11 games.

Scholefield, a 22-year-old management student majoring in international business, joins Steven Bielby of Pointe Claire, Que., as the only McGill athletes scheduled to compete at the Games. Also representing McGill in an administrative capacity will be Drew Love, director of athletics and recreation, who will be serving as Canada鈥檚 chef-de-mission.

Canada is coming off its best performance in history at the Universiade in men鈥檚 soccer with a fourth-place finish at the 2007 Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to 2007, the Canadians had never advanced past group play in four previous appearances at the tournament.

鈥淲e showed the last time around we can be competitive at that level,鈥� said UBC head coach Mike Mosher, who will lead the national side in Belgrade after serving as an assistant under Montreal鈥檚 Pat Raimondo two years ago. 鈥淲e see the fourth-place finish from 2007 as a real positive, as motivation, not as extra pressure.鈥�

The 2009 edition of Team Canada is comprised of 15 players from CIS schools and three from NCAA universities.

The team looks to be in good hands in goals with Montreal鈥檚 Gerardo Argento and Western Ontario鈥檚 Haidar Al-Shaibani set to protect the Canadian cage. Argento of Montreal is a four-time all-Canadian in as many varsity seasons, while Al-Shaibani of London, Ont., was a first-team all-Canadian in his fourth campaign at Western in 2007. Both have led their teams to a pair of CIS bronze medals.聽聽聽聽聽

The defensive unit is comprised of UBC teammates Jason Gill and Graham Smith, both of Abbotsford, B.C., Laval鈥檚 Alexandre L茅vesque-Tremblay of Baie-Saint-Paul, Que., Western鈥檚 Paul Seymour of Ottawa and York鈥檚 Jamaal Smith of Mississauga, Ont.

Gill and Graham Smith helped UBC capture the CIS banner in 2007 with Smith, a two-time all-Canadian, earning MVP honours at the national championship. The Thunderbirds also won the title in Smith鈥檚 freshman season in 2005.

L茅vesque-Tremblay earned all-Canadian nods the past two seasons. The CIS rookie of the year in 2006, Jamall Smith led York to its first CIS title since 1977 last fall, anchoring a Lions defence that did not allow a single goal at the national tourney.

鈥淎ny team that has success internationally must be strong and responsible defensively. My history playing for Canada and my experience at the last FISU Games tell me this had better be the case for our team to succeed,鈥� said Mosher, who suited up for Canada at the 1995 Universiade in Fukuoka, Japan, and represented the country at the Under-20 and U23 levels from 1987-1992.

鈥淎t the same time we need to be able to possess the ball and keep the ball to keep the pressure off our defenders, and I think we have a good mix of players in attacking positions whereby we can be creative with several threats in attack. We selected a number of these players based upon their speed and versatility so we can play different styles and formations depending on what is needed on that day.鈥�

Heading the group of midfielders is Francesco Bruno of Toronto, a first-team all-Canadian each of his first two CIS seasons, the reigning CIS player of the year, the OUA finalist for the 2009 BLG Award as CIS male athlete of the year, and a national champion with York last fall. Bruno represented Canada at the 2003 FIFA Under-20 world championship in the United Arab Emirates, where the team reached the quarterfinals.

Bruno will be accompanied at midfield by Scholefield, plus Montreal鈥檚 Guillaume Couturier of Candiac, Que., College of Charleston鈥檚 Branko Gavric of Kitchener, Ont., Buffalo鈥檚 Alexander Marrello of Burnaby, B.C., and Saskatchewan鈥檚 Josh Northey of Saskatoon..

Offensively, Team Canada can count on Carleton鈥檚 Matthew D鈥橝ngelo of Ottawa, Alberta鈥檚 John Konye of Edmonton, Saskatchewan鈥檚 Jerson Barandica-Hamilton of Saskatoon, Victoria鈥檚 Cole McFarlane of Calgary, and Winthrop鈥檚 Daniel Revivo of Richmond Hill, Ont.

D鈥橝ngelo, who played four years at Saint Mary鈥檚 before finishing his CIS eligibility at Carleton last season, and McFarlane are both two-time all-Canadians.

D鈥橝ngelo led all CIS players with 13 goals last fall, while Bruno was second in the nation with 10 markers. McFarlane and Barandica-Hamilton scored nine times apiece.

Revivo was named Big South Conference player of the year and a second-team all-American in 2008 when he netted 14 goals in 22 games. He has been named to 11 junior national teams over the course of his career.

Team Canada flies out of Montreal on June 21 and will hold a one-week training camp in Belgrade before kicking off the 16-team Universiade tournament with Group B contests against the Czech Republic on June 30, Morocco on July 2 and the Ukraine on July 4.

The quarterfinal round is set for July 6, the semi-finals for July 8, and the bronze and gold-medal games for July 10.

The Canadians are in tough in Group B as the Ukraine is reigning Universiade champion, while Morocco and the Czech Republic claimed bronze medals in 2005 and 2003, respectively.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have an easy draw. But then again I don鈥檛 think anyone has an easy draw,鈥� said Mosher. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a difficult tourney, period. No opponents can be taken lightly.鈥�

鈥淔ortunately, I have a terrific coaching staff with a ton of experience,鈥� added Mosher, who has led UBC to a pair of CIS crowns in the last four years. 鈥淲e all have national or international games experience, so that should be a big help.鈥�

A two-time CIS coach of the year who led McGill to a CIS title in 1997 before moving on to Montreal, Raimondo is reunited with Mosher and will be making his third Universiade appearance after assuming head-coaching duties in 2007 and acting as an assistant in 2003 in Daegu, South Korea.

The other assistant coach, Allan Errington from Fraser Valley, is a former assistant with Canada鈥檚 senior national team, including stints with the World Cup (1992-98) and Olympic (1992-98) squads.

Team leader Randy Bardock has been a CIS coach at Lethbridge for over 20 years and has been part of many provincial programs in Alberta.

2009 Summer Universiade website:

Team Canada website:

TEAM CANADA ROSTER聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

Position聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Name聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 University聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Eligibility *聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Hometown聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

Goalkeeper聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Haidar Al-Shaibani聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Western聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 London, Ont.

Goalkeeper聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gerardo Argento聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Montreal聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Montreal, Que.

Defence聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Alexandre L茅vesque-Tremblay聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Laval聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Baie-Saint-Paul, Que.

Defence聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Paul Seymour聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Western聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ottawa, Ont.

Defence聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jason Gill聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 UBC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Abbotsford, B.C.

Defence聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jamaal Smith聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 York聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mississauga, Ont.

Defence聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Graham Smith聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 UBC聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Abbotsford, B.C.

Midfield聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Guillaume Couturier聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Montreal聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Candiac, Que.

Midfield聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Branko Gavric聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Charleston #聽聽聽聽 3聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Kitchener, Ont.

Midfield聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Francesco Bruno聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 York聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Toronto, Ont.

Midfield聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Alexander Marrello聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Buffalo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Burnaby, B.C.

Midfield聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Josh Northey聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Saskatchewan聽 2聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Saskatoon, Sask.

Midfield聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 James Scholefield聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 McGill聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 5聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Pointe-Claire, Que.聽聽聽聽

Mid. / Forw.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 John Konye聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Alberta聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 5聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Edmonton, Alta.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

Forward聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jerson Barandica Hamilton聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Saskatchewan聽 2聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Saskatoon, Sask.

Forward聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Matthew D鈥橝ngelo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Carleton +聽聽聽聽聽聽 5聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ottawa, Ont.

Forward聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Cole McFarlane聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Victoria聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Calgary, Alta.

Forward聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Daniel Revivo聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Winthrop聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Richmond Hill, Ont.

* Indicates year of eligibility used in 2008 CIS / NCAA season;
A - Al-Shaibani used his fourth year of eligibility in 2007. He did not play university soccer in 2008 but is eligible for the Universiade as he graduated from Western in the Spring of 2008;
# College of Charleston;
+ D鈥橝ngelo played four years at Saint Mary鈥檚 before suiting up for Carleton in 2008.

厂罢础贵贵听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

Team leader: Randy Bardock, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alta.聽聽聽

Head coach: Mike Mosher, UBC, Vancouver, B.C.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

Assistant coach: Allan Errington, University of the Fraser Valley, Port Coquitlam, B.C.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

Assistant coach: Pat Raimondo, University of Montreal, Pointe-Claire, Que.

Physiotherapist: David Fleming, Prince George, B.C.

CANADA鈥橲 SCHEDULE AND DRAW:

June 30聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Preliminary Group B: Canada vs. Czech Republic

July 2聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Preliminary Group B: Canada vs. Morocco

July 4聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Preliminary Group B: Canada vs. Ukraine

July 6聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Quarterfinals

July 8聽聽聽 Semi-finals

July 10聽 Bronze & Final

Group A: Serbia, Mexico, Great Britain, Ghana

Group B: Ukraine, Canada, Czech Republic, Morocco

Group C: Italy, Uruguay, Ireland, Korea

Group D: Thailand, Japan, France, Brazil

CANADA鈥橲 RESULTS IN MEN鈥橲 SOCCER AT PAST SUMMER UNIVERSIADE:

2007 (Bangkok, Thailand): 4th

2003 (Daegu, South Korea): 15th

1995 (Fukuoka, Japan): 15th

1993 (Buffalo, USA): 16th

1979 (Mexico City, Mexico): 12th

About the Summer Universiade

The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years, and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors between the ages of 17 and 28 in the year of the Games who are full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.