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York University Lions goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas was one of 20 student-athletes selected to represented Canada in men’s soccer at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia (July 6-17). The Canadian roster is comprised of 18 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) standouts and a pair of NCAA all-stars. The Team Canada roster was selected following three open camps held this winter in Toronto (Feb. 22-24), Vancouver (March 1-3) and Edmonton (March 4-5). A total of 58 players attended the tryouts.
York University Lions goalkeeper Sotiri Varlokostas in action
Varlokostas, a fourth-year netminder from Toronto, is one of three players returning from the 2011 squad that finished the 16-team tournament in ninth position in Shenzhen, China. Also on the team again this year are Guelph striker Robbie Murphy and Niagara midfielder Carl Haworth.
Varlokostas is a two-time Ontario University Athletics (OUA) all-star, earning first-team honours this past season to go along with the second-team award he received the previous year. In 2012, he was the most dominant goalkeeper in the OUA West division, leading the Lions to their undefeated record while giving up a division-low eight goals allowed in 16 games. He made 62 saves and posted nine shutouts this season.
In Russia, Canada will compete in the preliminary round in Pool D against France (July 5), Peru (July 8) and reigning Universiade bronze medallist Brazil (July 10). The gold-medal final of the 16-team competition is scheduled for July 16.
The Canadians are coming off a ninth-place finish in 2011, the second best result in program history behind the fourth position from 2007. Team Canada finished fourth in their group in China after dropping their first two matches against Great Britain and Japan, the two countries which ended up meeting in the tournament final (Japan 2, Great Britain 0). They rebounded with three wins and a draw in their final four contests to end the tourney with a 3-2-1 overall record.