Brandon Francis (left) and Jaxon Uhl will suit up for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks men's soccer team this upcoming season. (Photo courtesy Lethbridge College, Kodiaks Athletics)

By Justin Goulet

Chinook High grads commit to Kodiaks men’s soccer team

Aug 10, 2022 | 10:29 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Some new names have been added to the Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s soccer team roster ahead of the 2022-2023 season.

Striker Jaxon Uhl and winger Brandon Francis will suit up for the Kodiaks. Both players are graduates of Chinook High School.

Head coach Sean Carey said, “It’s always exciting to have some local kids come in and play.”

“That’s what we’re about here at the college, developing our [Lethbridge Football Club] and Lethbridge Soccer Association players. We want to give them an opportunity to come here and do their studying and develop as soccer players as well.”

Carey noted that Uhl is a striker with a natural ability to score and “comes with a deadly finish on him.”

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“We saw him during the recruiting process and he came with a great attitude. He was very positive and was one of those guys that stood out to us as a coaching staff,” Carey remarked.

“We thought, you know, this is a guy we can work with. This is a guy we can develop to be a full-time starter in the ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference).”

Uhl said he cannot wait for the chance to play against college-level opponents, noting, “I’m excited to play at a higher level of soccer.”

“I’ve played with the majority of the guys on the team already so it’ll be a good transition.”

BRANDON FRANCIS

Meanwhile, the addition of Brandon Francis to the team gives them another offensive option with creativity and speed. Coach Carey said Francis is a “very skilled winger,” and “can play any of the top three positions.”

“He has a deadly shot on him when he can get into some space, and we know he is going to come in ready to go this year. He’s going to be pushing for a starting place,” said the coach.

Francis said he chose Lethbridge College because he was impressed with the team culture and coaching staff of the Kodiaks.

“Coach [Carey] obviously is a brilliant guy. I was able to meet the team and I liked what I saw,” he said.

“I’m hoping to bring a bit of a flair, a bit of speed, goal scoring ability, and a bit of tenacity to the team.”

Francis added he has received tons of support from his family throughout his journey and is excited to play in front of a hometown crowd.

He said, “My mom has been such a big influence.”

Francis continued, “She’s been integral for every single thing that’s happened in my life and it’s been amazing for her to see me go to college, because she never had the opportunity.”

The Kodiaks men and women’s soccer teams will start training camp later in August and the teams will open their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) regular season schedule on September 9 at Ambrose University before hosting their home opener September 11 against Medicine Hat College.

Additionally, the Kodiaks will host the 2022 ACAC Men and Women’s Soccer Championships, presented by Southern Alberta Homes, from October 28 to 30 at Comet Stadium in Raymond.

The full schedule for both the men and women’s soccer teams, as well as all other Lethbridge College teams, is available through the Kodiaks website.

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