Bjorn Borren is happy to join the Clan 鈥� the Simon Fraser University men鈥檚 soccer team.

Borren, a product of Pinnacles FC and the Thompson Okanagan Football Club, is the first signing by SFU for next fall.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of the final step I guess,鈥� said Borren. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really nice that after all this training and all this youth and the fun playing I鈥檓 making the big step to university soccer, which is really exciting. Get some money for school while getting an education.鈥�

Borren helped lead TOFC to a B.C. Soccer Premier League title in November and played last summer in the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) with the Penticton Pinnacles.

The Clan, which plays in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II, announced Borren鈥檚 signing along with three other players earlier this month and described Borren as a 鈥渄ynamic attacker.鈥� Borren originally committed to the Clan in early 2015.

On their website, the Clan said Borren is 鈥渨idely considered one of the most skillful midfielders in the province, the five-foot-eight, Penticton Secondary senior should provide an offensive spark from the moment he steps onto campus.鈥�

鈥淗e is everything you want in a soccer player 鈥� one of the best engines I鈥檝e seen in a youth player,鈥� said Clan coach Clint Schneider. 鈥淭echnically very good, he has great habits and he can score goals. He is also very versatile and can play a variety of positions.鈥�

Borren feels joining the Clan is a good fit because of coach Schneider, whom he really likes and called him a 鈥減layers coach.鈥� Borren had been in contact with Schneider for a while because of the PCSL and Schneider had scouted former Pinnacle James Fraser, who played with the Clan. It was while scouting Fraser that Schneider discovered Borren.

Like his coach, Borren believes he can make an impact on the field. A lot of that has to do with his time with the Pinnacles in the PCSL.

鈥淭hat league is made up of a lot of university players,鈥� said Borren. 鈥淚 have really done well in that league. I鈥檓 pretty confident that my skills will fit in with the level of NCAA Div 2.鈥�

Borren credits his parents for helping him reach his goal, especially driving him when he played for TOFC in 琉璃神社. He also credited the coaches he has had. Joining TOFC helped his development because as he got older, players his age were dropping out of Pinnacles FC for other sports or other things.

鈥淭OFC gave me the chance to play with high level players from all over the Okanagan,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 really wanted to keep training at a really intense pace with guys that are older.鈥�