Three members of the Brock Badgers men's soccer team have earned provincial recognition for their performances throughout the season.
The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced their list of major award winners and all-stars for men's soccer on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Emerging forward
Leart Nura took home the OUA West's Rookie of the Year award for his impact in his opening season with the Badgers, while also being named a Second Team All-Star. He is joined on the team by defenders
Tiago Pereira and
Nicholas Buccianti.
Earning recognition as the OUA's top incoming player, Nura appeared in all 12 of the Badgers regular season matches, quickly establishing himself as one of the team's key contributors. The Sport Management major led Brock with 20 shots, while also finishing
as the team's second leading scorer with three goals. The forward racked up his first career OUA goal in a 2-1 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sept. 18, helping to spark the Badgers mid-season turnaround as it began a stretch of five Brock wins over six matches. The Hamilton, Ont., product's energy and composure helped to establish himself as a core piece of the Badgers bright future.
Returning as a Second Team All-Star for the second consecutive year, Pereira delivered a career season in his senior year. As the only Badger to start all twelve regular season games, the veteran defender eclipsed the 1,000 minute mark in a campaign for the first time in his career, while providing an offensive spark from the Badgers backline. Firing in a career-high five goals, with four of them being game-winners, the Sport Management major led the team in both categories, consistently delivering in the clutch when his team needed him most. The Woodbridge, Ont., native departs the Badgers as one of the team's most decorated players after five incredible years of service.
Recording a career-high in minutes played with 957, Buccianti remained a steady presence amongst Brock's defensive unit in his final year with the Badgers. The fourth-year Sport Management student's strength, leadership, and defensive instincts helped lead the team to two regular season clean sheets as he anchored the backline throughout the season. Buccianti's dependable performances across the campaign capped off a strong four-year collegiate career as a Badger.
The complete list of 2026 OUA men's soccer award winner and all-stars is as follows:
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
Most Valuable Player (East) – Niklas Hallam, Toronto Varsity Blues
Most Valuable Player (West) – Christian Zeppieri, York Lions
Rookie of the Year (East) – Ivan Nechyporuk, Ottawa Gee-Gees
Rookie of the Year (West) –
Leart Nura, Brock Badgers
Community Service Award (East) – Jaden Mercure, Carleton Ravens
Community Service Award (West) – Yigal Bruk, York Lions
Champion of EDI Award (East) – Olutosin Ajakaiye, Nipissing Lakers
Champion of EDI Award (West) – Miguel Riviere, McMaster Marauders
Coach of the Year (East) – Brendan Teeling, Laurentian Voyageurs
Coach of the Year (West) – Carmine Isacco, York Lions
First Team All-Stars (East)
| Position |
Name |
School |
| Goalkeeper |
Daniel Clarke |
Queen's Gaels |
| Defender |
Luc Ihama |
TMU Bold |
| Defender |
Moshood Babalola |
Queen's Gaels |
| Defender |
Azim Mohammad |
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks |
| Midfielder |
Niklas Hallam |
Toronto Varsity Blues |
| Midfielder |
Caden Tomy |
Carleton Ravens |
| Midfielder |
Aziz Traore |
Laurentian Voyageurs |
| Midfielder |
Micah Joseph |
Toronto Varsity Blues |
| Striker |
Erion Metaj |
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks |
| Striker |
Exosse Kadiebue |
TMU Bold |
| Striker |
Leo Frans |
Trent Excalibur |
First Team All-Stars (West)
| Position |
Name |
School |
| Goalkeeper |
Michael Williams |
York Lions |
| Defender |
James Fidalgo |
York Lions |
| Defender |
Raffi Pisani |
Western Mustangs |
| Defender |
Damiano Refosco |
McMaster Marauders |
| Midfielder |
Christian Zeppieri |
York Lions |
| Midfielder |
Karl Espiro |
McMaster Marauders |
| Midfielder |
Gavin Goddard |
Western Mustangs |
| Midfielder |
Marco Sciortino |
York Lions |
| Striker |
Anthony Morano |
York Lions |
| Striker |
Ambrose Tinmouth |
Guelph Gryphons |
| Striker |
Callum Yuile |
Western Mustangs |
Second Team All-Stars (East)
| Position |
Name |
School |
| Goalkeeper |
Dante Ferraro |
TMU Bold |
| Defender |
Xavier-Etienne Patry |
Carleton Ravens |
| Defender |
Noah Carew |
Trent Excalibur |
| Defender |
Lucas Porfiris |
TMU Bold |
| Defender |
Sebastian Aguade |
Queen's Gaels |
| Defender |
Alex Maadanian |
Ontario Tech Ridgebacks |
| Midfielder |
Yusuf Osman |
Carleton Raevns |
| Midfielder |
Jacob Spizzirri |
Queen's Gaels |
| Striker |
Franco Di Giovanni |
Queen's Gaels |
| Striker |
Noah Bakker |
Nipissing Lakers |
| Striker |
Warren Chambers |
Trent Excalibur |
Second Team All-Stars (West)
| Position |
Name |
School |
| Goalkeeper |
Ethan Cagalj |
McMaster Maraduers |
| Defender |
Elijah Caparello-Wanless |
Guelph Gryphons |
| Defender |
Nicholas Buccianti |
Brock Badgers |
| Defender |
Mateo Nepszy |
Windsor Lancers |
| Defender |
Rome Gabriele |
Waterloo Warriors |
| Midfielder |
Tiago Pereira |
Brock Badgers |
| Midfielder |
Fergus Pender |
Guelph Gryphons |
| Midfielder |
Alban Osdautaj |
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks |
| Striker |
Ryan Robinson |
York Lions |
| Striker |
Kyler Monterroso |
Waterloo Warriors |
| Striker |
Leart Nura |
Brock Badgers |
