BURLINGTON, Ont. –  He was one of the most dangerous players in all of U SPORTS. Whenever Jace Kotsopoulos got a touch on the ball, the fourth-year Guelph Gryphons striker induced panic in defenders and goalkeepers all-around the OUA. Kotsopoulos had a 2018 season to remember, finishing second in U SPORTS in goals with 15, while also eclipsing the University of Guelph's all-time goals record.
 
And the Burlington, ON native was honoured for his effort as the OUA announced its major award winners and all-stars for the 2018 men's soccer season on Thursday, Nov. 1. Kotsopoulos was named OUA West MVP, while teammates Willem Grant, Ryan Vyrostko, Conor O'Callaghan and Atchu Siva all joined their MVP teammate as all-stars.
 
The Guelph hit man's 15 goals paced the OUA this season, with many coming at crucial moments to either tie or win a match. The majority of those 15 came in a memorable September when Kotsopoulos was named U SPORTS Male Athlete of the Month. He scored a brace in five of his seven matches that month and also became the University of Guelph men's all-time leading scorer when he bagged both goals in a 2-0 win over McMaster on Sept. 9. Kotsopoulos had 48 goals to that point, needing one to tie Guelph's all-time leader Robbie Murphy at 49. He got it in the 75th minute, heading a ball home from inside the area. But Kotsopoulos wasn't done.

He established the new school record six minutes later when he took a through ball from teammate Jon Amoo, held off a defender on his shoulder, and coolly finished with his left foot into the bottom corner of the McMaster net. He went on to score six more goals the rest of the season and currently sits in the top spot with 56.
 
"Jace had an amazing season, breaking the all-time Gryphon goal scoring record, leading the OUA in scoring and coming second in Canada," said Gryphons' head coach Keith Mason. "But above all this, Jace is a tremendous individual, humble, talented, hardworking, and a leader. It is a pleasure to coach such a player with these qualities day in day out. He is fully deserving of this special award, but I am sure Jace would be the first to admit he could not have done it without the fantastic support, on and off the field, from his teammates."
 
Kotsopoulos was also named an OUA West First Team All-star, as were fifth-year teammates Grant and Vyrostko, both of whom played their final match in a Guelph shirt last weekend.

Grant, a 6-4 native of Ottawa, ON, was a pillar in Guelph's central defence and a key contributor to the team's seven clean sheets. The veteran was a presence, bringing championship experience to a side with high aspirations. His final touch as a Gryphon was a successful penalty in Guelph's quarter-final match with Western that went to PKs. Vyrostko was another of member of the Gryphon team that won the OUA banner in 2016, while also earning a bronze medal as host of the U SPORTS championships. The senior from Waterloo, ON was a midfield general and important piece in supporting the Guelph's dynamic attackers.
 
One of those creative players is Siva, who made the OUA West Second Team. The skillful and energetic fourth-year midfielder was regularly responsible for helping Guelph form attacks down the flanks, where he was able to service Kotsopoulos and his fellow strikers. O'Callaghan joined Siva on the Second Team after a fantastic campaign. O'Callaghan, from North Vancouver, BC, provided leadership and tenacious defending to the Guelph back line. It was O'Callaghan's header in the 87th minute of a road match at Western late in the season that secured the team a first-round bye in the OUA postseason.
 

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OUA West Division Major Award Winners

Most Valuable Player (West) – Jace Kotsopoulos, Guelph
Coach of the Year (West) – Mark Worton, Waterloo
Rookie of the Year (West) – Sebastian Gurrieri, Waterloo
Community Service Award (West) – Yordan Stoyanov, McMaster

First Team All-Stars (West)
 
Goalkeeper – Kody Thomson, Western
Defence – Daniel Gogarty, York
Defence – Tahrik Rodriques, Laurier
Defence – Josh Kiselyov, York
Defence – Willem Grant, Guelph
Midfielder – Yunus Mollayev, McMaster
Midfielder – Jorgo Nika, York
Midfielder – Anand Sergeant, McMaster
Midfielder – Ryan Vyrostko, Guelph
Striker – Omar Marzouk, York
Striker – Jace Kotsopoulos, Guelph

Second Team All-Stars (West)
 
Goalkeeper – Tristan Joyce, McMaster
Defence – Jon Hodge, Western
Defence – Anton Buretic, McMaster
Defence – Conor O'Callaghan, Guelph
Defence – Cheikh Tchouambou, McMaster
Midfielder – Jeremy Arnold, Western
Midfielder – Cristian Cavallini, York
Midfielder – Emmanuel Zambazis, York
Midfielder – Atchu Siva, Guelph
Striker – Dusan Kovacevic, McMaster
Striker – Sabastian Guerrieri, Waterloo
 
OUA East Division Major Award Winners
 
Most Valuable Player (East) – Dario Conte, Carleton
Coach of the Year (East) – Kwesi Loney, Carleton
Rookie of the Year (East) – Kai Martin, Ryerson
Community Service Award (East) –Andrea Cicciarella, UOIT

First Team All-Stars (East)

Goalkeeper – Nick Jeffs, Carleton
Defence – Diego Politis, Carleton
Defence – Kenny Lioutas, Toronto
Defence – Cristopher Malekos, Carleton
Defence – Alex Meczarski, Ryerson
Midfielder –Dario Conte, Carleton
Midfielder – Emad Houache, Carleton
Midfielder – Raheem Rose, Ryerson
Midfielder – Abdallah El-Chanti, Ryerson
Striker – Gabriel Bitar, Carleton
Striker – Jae Jin Lee, Toronto

Second Team All-Stars (East)

Goalkeeper – Connor Vande Weghe, Laurentian
Defence – Jamal Brown, Nipissing
Defence – Zachary Toupin, Queen's
Defence – Nathaniel Tambakis, Ryerson
Defence – Liam Ezzard, Laurentian
Midfielder – Michael Chang, Queen's
Midfielder – Mateo Marques, UOIT
Midfielder – Nikola Stakic, Toronto
Midfielder – Marko Mandekic, Toronto
Striker – Junior Kwame Addai, Queen's
Striker – Ryan Roy, Nipissing
 

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