CALGARY – Just a few hours before their postseason opener, three members of the University of Calgary Dinos men's soccer team learned they were announced as Canada West All-Stars, the league office announced Friday morning.

Owen Antoniuk and Soliman Aria were both named to the league's first team, while William Omoreniye was named a second teamer.

The first-team selection is the second in a row for Antoniuk. The fourth-year forward erupted right out of the gates and never looked back, scoring an incredible four goals in Calgary's season opener. He finished the regular season ranking second in Canada West and third in all of U SPORTS in both goals (10) and points (14). He also tied for the team lead with four assists on the year.

For Aria, the all-star honour is his first. The fifth-year midfielder started all 11 games he played this season, tallying a career-high seven points (four goals, three assists). Two of his goals proved to be game winners, as his two-goal performance at Lethbridge back in August squashed a comeback effort by the 'Horns while his early marker at Thompson Rivers helped the Dinos to a road rout.

Meanwhile, the conference nod is the second for Omoreniye, who was a Canada West and U SPORTS All-Rookie selection back in 2022. The fourth-year defender not only was a force on the back line for the Dinos all season, he also finished tied with a team-high four assists on the year. Not only is that number a new career best, it also ties Omoreniye with Antoniuk for fifth-most in Canada West on the year.

This marks the second time in as many years the Dinos have had three conference first or second team all-stars. Prior to last season, you would have to go back to 2016 when Dominic Russo and Dominick Zator were first teamers, and Bori Falaye earned a spot on the second team.

After posting an 8-5-1 record in the regular season this year, Calgary earned the No. 2 seed in the Prairie Division and a conference quarterfinal matchup with UFV Friday at 5 p.m. MT from Vancouver. Ironically, the seeding and opening playoff opponent are identical to last year, with the Dinos looking to avenge their shootout loss to the Cascades in last year's postseason opener. 

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