BURLINGTON, Ont. – There was no shortage of members from the Guelph Gryphon men's soccer team being named Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 10) when Ontario University Athletics announced the all-stars and major award winners from the 2021 OUA men's soccer season. In total, five different Gryphon's student-athletes were named, with midfielder
Lucas Doros taking home OUA West Player of the Year, while also being named an OUA West All-Star.
Harvey Marchant was honoured as the recipient of the OUA West Division's Community Service Award, and
Keith Mason was named the OUA West Coach of the Year for a second time.
Gryphons Men's Soccer Major Award Winners
OUA West Player of the Year –
Lucas Doros
OUA West Community Service Award –
Harvey Marchant
OUA West Coach of the Year –
Keith Mason
Gryphons Men's Soccer OUA All-Stars
#5
Harvey Marchant (OUA West All-Star)
#6
Ian Vidovich (OUA West All-Star)
#7
Lucas Doros (OUA West All-Star)
#16
Jack Sears (OUA West All-Star)
#22
Svyatoslav Artemenko (OUA West All-Star)
OUA West Player of the Year – #7 Lucas Doros
Entering his 4
th year of eligibility and 5
th year at the University of Guelph, veteran midfielder,
Lucas Doros put together arguably his best season as a Gryphon in 2021 and was ultimately rewarded by the conference, being named the OUA West Player of the Year.
A Newmarket, Ontario native, Doros made his presence felt on both ends of the pitch this year by not only helping anchor one of the best defensive units in Gryphon's history, but also by tying for the team lead in goals with three. Having always been a reliable piece for Head Coach
Keith Mason on the defensive end, this year the mathematical science major also showed his touch on the attack, netting the first three goals of his OUA career. Despite the nose for goals this season, Doros still made sure to keep things locked down in his own half. With his defensive prowess, Doros has been one of the major reasons why the Gryphons only surrendered three goals in the regular season (none at home), and just one goal so far in the playoffs, as they prepare to host the OUA Championship on Saturday against York.
With Doros receiving the OUA West Player of the Year honour, it marks the third straight season that a Gryphon has been the recipient. Back in the 2019-20 season, Alex Zis was named the winner, while Jace Kotsopoulos received the award for the 2018-19 season. Overall, Doros became the fourth Gryphon to be recipient of the award, with Robbie Murphy winning it back in 2011-12.
OUA West Community Service Award – #5 Harvey Marchant
In just his first year of eligibility, midfielder,
Harvey Marchant, took home the OUA West Community Service Award for his tremendous rookie campaign both on and off the pitch.
A native of Fleet, England, Marchant has been a valuable member with Guelph Soccer, helping coach kids from ages
four-to-seven in the Futsal program. He was also named a program supervisor for Guelph Soccer and was an integral part of the organization's "Neighbourhood Soccer Program" this past summer. The program's focus is on engaging local youth in the sport of soccer in an affordable and accessible way, with Marchant helping kids with skill development while also introducing them to game action. Marchant has not only emerged as a leader in the Guelph community, but also within the Gryphons men's soccer program, where he sets a strong example with his conduct both on and off the field.
In his first regular season with the Gryphons, Marchant recorded an assist while totaling 517 minutes. In Guelph's two playoff games, Marchant has really come on strong playing in all 210 minutes and giving Coach Mason someone he can rely upon anywhere on the field.
OUA West Coach of the Year – Keith Mason
After leading Guelph to an unprecedented undefeated campaign in 2021, Gryphon's Head Coach
Keith Mason was awarded the OUA West Coach of the Year for the second time in his men's soccer career at University of Guelph. Despite having to deal with some poor injury luck at times, that did not prevent Coach Mason from pressing all of the right buttons throughout the season as his squad won eight of their ten regular season contests and so far, are two for two in the post-season, and preparing to host an OUA Championship.
With 2021 marking a 33
rd consecutive season with the Gryphons, and 21
st as the head coach of the men's program, Mason's experience has often played a role in getting the most out of his side.
In a season unlike any other with teams trying to round back into form following a canceled 2020 season, Mason helped his team find their groove quickly and they have never looked back. Now a two-time OUA West Coach of the Year (men's soccer), to go along with his U SPORTS Coach of the Year award in 2011-12 and his South/West Coach of the Year (women's soccer) from 1990-91, the bench boss will now try to add a second OUA championship to his mantle that already holds one OUA title and a U SPORTS bronze medal.
Along with Doros and Marchant, three other Gryphons were also named OUA West all-stars for 2021. Goalkeeper,
Svyatoslav Artemenko, defence,
Ian Vidovich and midfielder,
Jack Sears were all named to the OUA West All-Star team.
Taking over in goal this season for
Erik Hermanns,
Svyatoslav Artemenko has been nothing short of incredible in his rookie season. Judging by his skill and calm demeanour, you would never be able to tell that 2021 was the first OUA season for the keeper out of Winnipeg. During the 2021 regular season, Artemenko completed seven clean sheets while contributing a half of play to one more. Only allowing three goals during the regular season and just one more in the playoffs, the Gryphon's keeper is a big reason why Guelph finds themselves in an OUA title match on Saturday.
Turning aside two of Ontario Tech's four penalty kicks in Guelph's quarter-finals win over the Ridgebacks, while also making eight saves in a 1-0 semi-finals win over Carleton, including a 94
th minute save on a penalty kick, the 6'2, economics major appears on his way to being a dominate force in the OUA for years to come.
Doing whatever needed of him to win,
Jack Sears has once again been very impressive for the Gryphons in 2021 earning him an OUA West All-Star honour. Playing from box to box, the midfielder from Ajax has played in all but 90 minutes for the Gryphons this season. As reliable as they come, Sears tallied both a goal and an assist this season, while also knocking home the game-winning penalty against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks in their quarter-final contest. Always showing good vision, while covering every blade of grass and showing great strength in his tackles, Sears continues to do anything and everything required of him for his teammates and for that, he is being honoured by the OUA.
Rounding out the Gryphon award winners,
Ian Vidovich was named an OUA West All-Star for the third time in his career. Having received the honour for his seasons in 2017-18 and 2019-20, Vidovich once again showcased his talent and skill in 2021. Despite missing the first third of the season, the 6'2 defender came back as strong as ever for the Gryphons. Including their playoff run, Vidovich has now started in six games this year, while playing in eight total, accumulating 595 minutes. In that time, the sociology major was able to get himself on the score sheet tallying a goal and an assist. With that said though, the true focus for the senior has been in his own end where the Gryphons have sparkled. Whether it's clearing dangerous attacks, preventing attacks in their early stages or just being a calm leader on the back end of the pitch, he has proven to be monumental in Guelph tallying so many clean sheets this year.
Award Winners
OUA East Division
Most Valuable Player – Dieu Merci Yuma, York
Coach of the Year – Carmine Isacco, York
Rookie of the Year – Matteo de Brienne, Carleton
Community Service Award – Nathaniel Sadler, Ontario Tech
OUA Central Division
Most Valuable Player – Dusan Kovacevic, McMaster
Coach of the Year – Dino Perri, McMaster
Rookie of the Year – Mohamed Al Shakman, McMaster
Community Service Award – Cheikh Tchouambou Youmbi, McMaster
OUA West Division
Most Valuable Player – Lucas Doros, Guelph
Coach of the Year – Keith Mason, Guelph
Rookie of the Year – Harvey Marchant, Guelph
Community Service Award – Matheus Mello, Waterloo
OUA Men's Soccer All-Stars
OUA East Division
Goalkeeper – Kyle Potter, Carleton
Goalkeeper – George Tzimas, York
Defender – Raphael Garcia, Carleton
Defender – Jadon Vilfort, York
Defender – Tareq Hamad, Carleton
Defender – Jacob Begley, Ontario Tech
Midfielder – Soji Olatoye, York
Midfielder – Emmanuel Zambazis, York
Midfielder – Scott Mazzotta, Carleton
Midfielder – Milosh Stojanovic, Queen's
Striker – Dieu Merci Yuma, York
Striker – Gabriel Bitar, Carleton
OUA Central Division
Goalkeeper – Tristan Joyce, McMaster
Goalkeeper – Ben Grondin, Toronto
Defender – Matt Monteiro, McMaster
Defender – Kai Martin, Rams
Defender – Cheikh Tchouambou Youmbi, McMaster
Defender – Jacob Maurutto-Robinson, Toronto
Defender – Mohamed Abdallah, Rams
Midfielder – Antonio Sereno, McMaster
Midfielder – Abdallah El-Chanti, Rams
Midfielder – Nikola Stakic, Toronto
Midfielder – Jack Collins, Nipissing
Striker – Dusan Kovacevic, McMaster
OUA West Division
Goalkeeper – Svyatoslav Artemenko, Guelph
Goalkeeper – Samuel Spoelstra, Western
Defender – Ian Vidovich, Guelph
Defender – Harvey Marchant, Guelph
Defender – Aidan Bauer Marr, Western
Defender – Luka Frankovich, Waterloo
Midfielder – Lucas Doros, Guelph
Midfielder – Jack Sears, Guelph
Midfielder – Matheus Mello, Waterloo
Midfielder – Patrick Melo, Western
Striker – Michael Solomon, Brock
Striker – Sebastian Guerrieri, Waterloo
