KAMLOOPS – Jace Kotsopoulos is one of the most lethal strikers in Canadian university soccer. And despite missing a significant portion of the season due to injury, the third-year member of the Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team was recognized for his uncanny ability to find the back of the net. Kostsopoulos was named a Second Team U SPORTS All-Canadian at Wednesday's awards gala hosted by Thompson Rivers University.

Kotsopoulos, who was also named a First Team OUA West All-star, had the bulk of his success with an early-season breakout that had him on pace to the lead the country in goals. He started the first nine games of the season and scored 10 times through an amazing stretch, many of them crucial goals for a side looking to defend its 2016 OUA title. The Burlington, ON native kicked the season off with a sensational hat-trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 4-3 OUA away win at Windsor. He then scored the opener the next game in a 2-2 draw with Western, an equalizer in a 2-1 win at York, and the first two goals in a 3-2 win at Laurier. His offensive output helped the Gryphons off to a flying 3-0-1 start in four road matches.

Kostsopoulos's presence was critical to Guelph's excellent 2017 season. He not only scores goals, he usually does so with style, combining incredible technical skills with a calm, strong mentality that instills a confidence in teammates, who know they are never out of a match when he is on the pitch. Kotsopoulos unfortunately suffered a knee injury after those first nine games and did not return to the Guelph starting 11 until the regular season finale, which he was subbed into for the last 30 minutes.

The Management and Economics Finance major scored 11 goals in 15 appearances as a rookie and then bagged 17 in 16 games last season, including seven match winners.

"Jace is truly one of the top strikers in the country and we're very happy to have him on the Gryphon team," Guelph head coach Keith Mason says. "And to think that he has two more years of development with us is exciting.

"If he can stay healthy and keep improving, the sky is the limit for him."

Click here for a full list of U SPORTS All-Canadians and major award winners.