CALGARY – Eryk Kobza and William Omoreniye of the Calgary Dinos men's soccer team were both selected in the Canadian Premier League U SPORTS Draft Thursday.

Omoreniye was selected in the first round with the seventh overall pick, while Kobza was taken in the second round with the 14th overall selection. Both were drafted by the Calgary Cavalry FC.

"It's an exciting day for the program, for sure," Dinos head coach Brendan O'Connell said. "It's an opportunity they've both earned and we're certainly pleased for them."

Omoreniye just finished his first season with the Dinos. The local product started all 16 games on the back line and led the team in goals (five) and points (eight), while tying for the team lead with three assists.

"This is fully deserved for Will," O'Connell said. "He made the Canada West All-Rookie Team and played a big role for us last year. We're very proud."

Kobza just finished his time in the Scarlet & Gold, helping this year's squad to another deep playoff run that saw them advance all the way to the Canada West Championship despite a roster that prominently featured five rookies. He also started all 16 games on the year and finished tied for team high with three assists to go with his three goals. 

"For me as a coach, this has been a long time coming for Eryk," O'Connell said. "There's been a lot of interest around him (from professional clubs) for a while. Frankly, this is long overdue. I think him moving into a center half role this past season helped him. He reads the game well. His passing range is superb. He's a great athlete and a great human being and this is a no brainer. He could earn a living playing soccer – he just has to find the right level that suits him."

This continues a trend of Dinos players being selected to play at the next level.

Earlier this year, Gareth Smith-Doyle signed a professional contract with Cavalry FC after just one season on the UCalgary campus. The 6-foot-2 forward earned five caps after joining the team midway through the season and helped the squad to a third-place finish in the CPL standings.

Dominick Zator also just finished his second season with York United FC in the CPL before announcing earlier this week a move overseas to play with Korona Kielce in the Polish Ekstraklasa – the top league in Poland.

"I think this says a lot about the program and how strong it has been in recent year," O'Connell said. "It's a credit to the coaches and their hard work. It's a credit to the players, who have come in at a high level and been able to cope. I think we've proven that the program is in good hands and is very strong at the moment. We're very proud of it."

Both Kobza and Omoreniye will be invited to join Cavalry FC for their pre-season with the opportunity to earn a roster spot under a U SPORTS Development Contract.

-UC-