Liam Foulger, a 6-foot-2 centre-back from Vancouver, has committed to the UBC Okanagan men's soccer team for the 2016 Canada West season.

A product of Prince of Wales Mini School and the Surrey United program, Foulger began his soccer career in the USL Super-Y league with Coastal FC鈥檚 U12 club, before playing the next three seasons with Mountain United FC of the BC Soccer Premier League.

In his final year with Mountain, Foulger was named the U16 club's captain in 2014.

In 2016, in his second season with Surrey United, Foulger and his U18 teammates advanced to the Provincial Premier Championship.

鈥淚鈥檓 super grateful and excited for the opportunity at UBCO,鈥� said Foulger after having signed with the Heat. 鈥� I look forward to making a positive impact on the team.鈥�

Coming to UBC Okanagan to study Human Kinetics, Liam said the academic side of his college career was as big a factor in the decision as athletics.

"Because it was a good fit academically, one of the top schools in the country with programs I wanted, and athletically because there is a great coach with a good team bringing in lots of quality players,鈥� Foulger said.

Head coach Dante Zanatta was happy to able to attract a talent like Foulger so late in the recruting season, as the staff was looking to replace the graduated fifth year centre-back, Harrison Shrimpton.

"Liam is very good in the air, is able to play at either side of the CB (centre-back) pairing and has the ability to play a good exit pass out of the back, with his addition this position will have a great battle in pre season to see who steps up for a stating spot," said Zanatta.

An early first look at the Heat as the Canada West men's soccer schedule gets started in August this year.

The Heat men's squad open up at home on the Nonis Sports Field on the UBC Okanagan campus with matches on Saturda, Aug. 27 against the University of Victoria and then on Sunday, Aug. 28 versus UBC.