Vancouver Whitecaps U19 2022 League1 BC squad profile (Part One – The Defence)
We continue our breakdowns of some of the squads for the upcoming League1 BC season with a two-part look at the Vancouver Whitecaps U19 men’s team. We kick things off at the back, with the goalkeepers and defenders on the squad.
With a number of the U19 side moving into the U23 program and now WFC2 in recent years, this is going to be quite a young Whitecaps L1BC squad, the youngest in the league, but these matches will invariably prove to be a fantastic opportunity for the guys and a key step in their pathway through the game, whether here in Vancouver or beyond.
HARRISON GOUGH
17-year-old Harrison Gough has been with the Whitecaps academy since joining the U14 squad in August 2017.
After coming through the Coastal FC youth system in the BCSPL, and Tsawwassen Soccer Club before that, Gough has been playing with the ‘Caps through the age groups, playing for the U17s in the curtailed 2019/20 USSDA season and seeing time with the U19s in the Fraser Valley Soccer League Premier Division this past winter season.
He was also an unused sub in WFC2’s 2-1 win at Tacoma Defiance in MLS Next Pro last month, and is yet another strong goalkeeper to come through the Whitecaps system.
MARSHALL HERALD – 18-year-old Marshall Herald joined the Whitecaps Academy program in 2016 after previously playing for Mountain United Football Club in the BCSPL. Starting off in the U14 side he’s been working his way up through the age groups and will now take to the pitch in L1BC this season.
JULIANO CAMPEDELLI
First joining the Whitecaps academy in August 2016, 18-year-old full back Juliano Campedelli can play on either side of the defence, along with the wingback role.
A product of Mountain United, Campedelli played in all 24 matches for the U15s as they won the 2017/18 USSDA Northwest Division, before moving up the U17s and now the U19s, gaining valuable experience playing matches in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Spain.
He’s also been involved with the Whitecaps U23 side in friendlies over the last two years and would likely have earned a MLS Next Pro deal, but the talented academic has decided to go the college route and has committed to the University of Guelph for this fall.
Two-footed and powerful going forward, Campedelli’s pace allows him to be a key player for the ‘Caps at both ends of the pitch. L1BC will be the next stage of his development after playing this past winter season with the ‘Caps U19s in the FVSL.
ERIC KIM – After impressing at an Alberta Soccer Association Whitecaps combine, Eric Kim headed west to join the ‘Caps system in August 2018 after coming through the Calgary Foothills system, where he primarily played as a forward before transitioning to a full back/wingback role with the ‘Caps.
Starting in the U15s, 18-year-old Kim has come up through the age groups and played with the Whitecaps U19 side in the FVSL Premier Division campaign this past winter season, scoring one goal for the ‘Caps in the Soccer City Cup.
ERIC LAJEUNESSE – Heading to the Whitecaps in September 2021 from Ottawa’s Futuro Soccer Academy, Eric Lajenesse has slotted into a backline role with the ‘Caps U19 team in the FVSL Premier Division team after playing in primarily a defensive midfield position with Ottawa St. Anthony Italia Soccer Club, where he captained the team.
Lajeunesse had a five week trial with Plymouth Argyle U18s in the summer of 2019.
JADEN MANETTA – Jaden Manetta is one of three Whitecaps Academy alumni that is returning this summer to play for the L1BC team after a Freshman year at the University of Seattle Redhawks, where he made four appearances in his rookie season, logging 81 minutes.
The 6-foot-2 centre back came to the Whitecaps in August 2018, having previously played with Mountain United in the BCSPL, starting 10 of his 16 appearances and scoring one goal for the U17s in his debut USSDA season in 2018/19.
Manetta then played with the Whitecaps U19 and U23 teams and was involved in Marc Dos Santos preseason camp ahead of the 2021 MLS season.
JORDAN MCKINTY – A recent addition to the Whitecaps academy from Oakville, Ontario, Jordan McKinty can play wingback and winger and has featured with the U19 team in the FVSL this year.
JOSHUA TOME
Joshua Tome has been in the Whitecaps system since August 2017, first joining the U14 team after playing in the BCSPL with Surrey United and then moving up through the U15 and U17 sides to the current U19 set up. Tome played this past winter season with the ‘Caps in the FVSL, scoring on goal.
DEYLEN VELLIOS
Right back Deylen Vellios is the second of the Whitecaps academy alumni to come back and play this summer in L1BC after two seasons in the NCAA with the Ohio State University Buckeyes.
With Covid disrupting his rookie season in 2020, Vellios played two college seasons in 2021, his Freshman one in the spring and his sophomore one in the fall, making a combined total of 25 appearances, 23 of them starts, and registering one assist in his 2020 minutes logged.
After playing football from the age of 5 with South Burnaby Metro SC, 20-year-old Vellios joined the Whitecaps academy in August 2016 after impressing with Mountain United in the BCSPL, moving up through the age groups, and was part of the Whitecaps Development squad that travelled to play matches in Mexico and South Korea in 2019.
Vellios has played with the Canadian national team at U13, U15 and U17 level, going to the World Cup in Brazil with the latter in 2019, where he made one appearance. His brother Savic joined the Whitecaps academy in August 2019.
SHAYA ZARJAMPOUR
Full back Shaya Zarjampour joined the Whitecaps academy last year after impressing when he played for FC Tigers against the ‘Caps in a friendly at Swangard last summer.
The Richmond native is a product of Fusion FC, playing for them in the BCSPL before switching to the Tigers academy when he was 17.
The 18-year-old can play right back, right wingback, and central midfield and was part of the Whitecaps U19 side that played in the FVSL Premier Division this past season.
Previous Article
Next Article