ItB次元官网网址檚 been a winding, sometimes bumpy road for Mark Cottrell, who has gone from laying bricks in Langford to helping anchor the backline of two-time defending national menB次元官网网址檚 soccer champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
Cottrell, 26, graduated from Belmont in 2007 and has suited up for Victoria United in the Pacific Coast Soccer League, the Peninsula College Pirates in Port Angeles and even had a tryout with the Professional Development LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Kitsap Pumas.
While heB次元官网网址檚 considered a B次元官网网址渕ature studentB次元官网网址� academically, he doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel like the elder statesman alongside his new teammates, who range in age from 19 to 25.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 really talk about it much. We just look at each other as players and theyB次元官网网址檝e been really welcoming to me,B次元官网网址� he says.
The Thunderbirds are off to a 6-0 start, outscoring their Pacific Division opponents 19-2 in the process. They opened the regular season with a 3-1 road win over the University of Victoria Vikes, the team that cut him in 2011 B次元官网网址� the decision that led Cottrell to look south for a team.
In his third year of CIS (Canada Inter-University Sport) eligibility having played two years with the Pirates, the modest Cottrell can take some of the credit for the T-BirdsB次元官网网址� stellar defensive record. He has dressed for all six games B次元官网网址� no small feat given the fact only 18 players travel with the team out of a roster of 33.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e definitely been happy, especially coming in on such short notice, itB次元官网网址檚 been hard to establish myself and get to know all the guys and gel with the team. But itB次元官网网址檚 definitely been a confidence booster.B次元官网网址�
UBC head coach Mike Mosher, who has guided the T-Birds to four CIS titles, likes what Cottrell brings to his team.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a good communicator, which is important as a defender. We see Mark as a valuable piece, because he can play any position in our back four,B次元官网网址� Mosher says, adding that CottrellB次元官网网址檚 maturity shows on and off the field.
The defenderB次元官网网址檚 road to UBC was somewhat circuitous. He took a couple years off school after graduation, working for Harold Blumenthal at Bricklok Surfacing and Masonry. He suited up for Victoria United in the under-21 division and later with their senior team.
Having attended Camosun College to boost his grades, he eventually registered at UVic. Somewhat disheartened after the Vikes experience, he looked south for a scholarship. The strategy worked. After trying out for Kitsap FC in Bremerton, Wash., he received a couple of offers, including one from Peninsula College.
He stayed for two years, helping the Pirates win the 2013 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges title and earned himself a one-year soccer scholarship to Western Washington University, an NCAA Div. II school. In August, however, he was declared ineligible by the national body due to his pre-college club play.
Disillusioned, he surveyed his options closer to home and came up with UBC. B次元官网网址淚 decided that UBC was close and I knew it was a good program. And coach Mosher was kind enough to let me come in and try out,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚t was definitely intimidating, because itB次元官网网址檚 such a big program. You see 30 or 35 players trying out and theyB次元官网网址檙e all very good players.B次元官网网址�
Mosher called CottrellB次元官网网址檚 story B次元官网网址減retty unique.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗e tried out for us out of the blue, only days before training camp,B次元官网网址� says Mosher, who heard good things from WWUB次元官网网址檚 coach and decided to give Cottrell a shot.
Now majoring in psychology and looking to focus on sports psychology, Cottrell is pleased with how things have turned out.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very happy to be here and I feel like IB次元官网网址檝e been through the worst of things,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 feel very focused and determined and see myself having some success with this team.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
