The University of the Fraser Valley'sÂ
Mateo Brazinha has been named Canada West's 2024 men's soccerÂ
Player of the Year.
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The third year forward from Port Coquitlam, B.C. delivered the most dynamic offensive season in UFV program history, leading the conference with nine assists and 17 points while setting new single-season program records for both categories. His eight goals also tied for the conference lead.Â
Brazinha is the first player to lead the conference in both goals and assists since UBC's Gagandeep Dosanjh did it in 2012.
He is now the first UFV men's soccer player to win the award.
"It's huge. He obviously had a fantastic season, scored some really important goals and set some really important goals," praised UFV head coach
Tom Lowndes. "He looked like the complete forward this year. When we get to the end of the season and he's being double and triple marked, it's a credit to him. He's had a fantastic season."
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"I'm really proud and happy for him. He put in the work in the off-season to get better and be a real dominant attacker in this league, and he's shown it."
The UFV forward noted that this success was more than he expected at the start of the year.
I had lofty ambitions, lofty goals. I always do, but this year. It's kind of blown it out of proportion a little bit," Brazinha explained.
"I never once thought I'd win player of the year, so I kind of expected like first team All Star would be great."
Brazinha's offensive brilliance pushed the Cascades to their highest ever Canada West regular season record at 8-5-3, leading the team to a third place finish in the ultra competitive Pacific Division. Brazinha was an integral part of the program defying external expectations, as the Cascades were ranked 10th out of 13 teams in the pre-season coaches poll.
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Always humble, Brazinha credited his team with allowing him to have such a successful year.
"I'll give them all the credit, because I couldn't do any of it without them. And I hope they know that. How big and significant they were to not only this award, but the whole season and which we've done so well."
"It feels like a privilege for me to play for the program. And they've kind of unlocked, such an amazing season for the whole team"
The striker noted that while the award is top of mind for now, the aim for the team next year is clear.
"I don't think there's any doubt between all 31 of us, it's to do better. We came so close to to doing something incredible, which was obviously heartbreaking, but for the team and also for myself, we are looking to come back in August and and be better than we were last year."
