“I didn’t think I would get selected in the first round,” De Souza said. “I thought if I was going to get selected, it would be their last pick, but to pick me [with] the fifth pick was a special feeling — especially being there with my family.”
De Souza was the second selection for the local team in the Canadian Premier League draft, following Joseph Green of Mount Royal University, who was taken third overall. Despite the many standout players to come through the Cascades since the CPL’s inception, De Souza became the first player in program history to be drafted in the CPL-U SPORTS draft. With only 18 total picks, the selection itself was a significant achievement — one De Souza credits to the support of his teammates.
“They pushed me and really helped me get to the draft. It’s a special feeling because that’s what I worked for. That was my plan going into the season: go in, have a good season, and try to get drafted.”
Vancouver FC knew exactly what they were getting in De Souza. His .808 save percentage and 59 saves across 16 matches ranked fifth in U SPORTS this season, as the rookie backstopped the Cascades back to the Canada West semi-finals before falling 1-0 to UBC in extra time. The cherry on top of De Souza’s selection was the fact that he spent time training with Vancouver FC earlier this year.
“It was a really good experience,” De Souza said of his training experience with Vancouver FC. “I learned a lot backing up Callum Irving, he’s a great person to learn from and he mentored me a lot. Being in a professional environment is always good — it’s challenging; it [takes] dedication [and] hard work every single day.”
Vancouver FC’s 2025 season was a mixed bag. Despite finishing last in the CPL standings, the feisty team from Willoughby clawed their way to the finals of the Canadian Championship tournament against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The surprising Cinderella run came to an end with a 4-2 loss in Vancouver.
“They didn’t have an ideal season that they wanted, but they changed in the last couple [of] games and started getting results,” said De Souza on his new club. “Going on a good Canadian Championship run lifted everyone’s spirits going into next season — especially now getting a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup.”
The Concacaf Champions Cup is North America’s premier soccer tournament, featuring the top talent from North and Central America, and the Caribbean. In 2026, Vancouver FC will make its tournament debut, but the challenge will be steep, as the club is set to face defending champions Cruz Azul in the first round.
While De Souza’s eyecatching season was rewarded on draft day, another decorated Cascade did not hear his name called. UFV star forward Mateo Brazinha, the reigning U SPORTS Joe Johnson Memorial Trophy winner as U SPORTS men’s soccer player of the year, and two-time Canada West Player of the Year, went unselected by the league’s eight CPL clubs.
“I was honestly quite shocked,” De Souza said of his captain’s omission. “As arguably the best player in Canada and U SPORTS — he showed that last year [and] showed that this year again — it’s unfortunate that no team picked him up, because I feel like he could be a great addition to any team.”
Despite the snub, Cascade’s men’s soccer has firmly captured the attention of professional scouts. With De Souza leading the way, future UFV players may soon follow in hearing their names called on CPL draft day.
“When [De Souza] committed I was delighted, because not only is he a quality goalkeeper but he’s a quality person as well,” said coach Tom Lowndes. “He’s great around the guys, they enjoy his company, and he’s such a hard worker. We are excited for him to gain the experience and use that to have another great season with us in the fall of 2026.”
