The Vikes striker is leading the nation in goals
Photo by Paul Voll.
The memory of walking off Mount Royal Stadium Field last October in Calgary — one win away from qualifying for the 2023 U Sports Men’s Soccer Championship — still gives Vikes striker Matthew Pearse chills.
After outshooting Mount Royal University early on and going into overtime, the Vikes fell 3-1, abruptly ending their season. Pearse, a freshman at the time, views the loss as a missed opportunity for the Vikes soccer program — which hasn’t qualified for the U Sports Championship tournament since 2021.
“It was definitely frustrating . . . we just couldn’t produce [goals],” said Pearse, who failed to score in the Canada West Championships — the tournament used by western Canadian universities to qualify for nationals.
If the Vikes’ start to the 2024 season is any indication, however, producing goals might now be a team strength.
In their first six games this season, the Vikes haven’t recorded a loss, while averaging 2.2 goals per game — a scoring rate substantially higher than last season’s 1.3 goals per game.
So, where has this increase in scoring come from? In short, from Matthew Pearse — who, as of September 8, is tied for first in goals and alone in first for shots in Canadian U Sports men’s soccer.
Pearse is a Victoria local who graduated from St. Andrews Regional High School. After spending his first collegiate year with UBC, where he was “redshirted” and never given a chance to play, Pearse returned to Victoria last season to play for the Vikes.
Although Pearse didn’t begin last season as a starter for the Vikes, he was regularly subbing into games, playing meaningful minutes, and quickly growing in confidence.
The turning point last season, for Pearse, came during a game against MacEwan University on September 22, in which the Vikes were trailing. Pearse came off the bench in the second half, scored two goals and helped to secure a huge comeback win for the team.
“That was probably the happiest I’ve ever felt after a game — just amazing,” he said.
After the MacEwan game, Pearse noticed he began adjusting more to the level of play and improved his drive to compete as the season progressed. The coaching staff took notice. After starting for just two of the season’s first 12 games, Pearse started for the Vikes in their final six contests, playing over 60 minutes in each — a huge increase from the amount of minutes he received per game in the first half of the season.
His impressive rookie season ended up earning him a selection on to Canada West Men’s Soccer All Rookie team (along with teammate Aiden Grew), an honour reserved for the best performing first year players at their position.
This season, Pearse admits that finishing on his scoring chances was a main goal entering the year.
To refine his “finishing ability,” Pearse practises his shots and how to adjust his body to connect with crossed balls coming from various angles, and also watches videos of how professional players move and manipulate defenders to score.
With soccer typically being a low scoring sport, Pearse knows he needs to keep up the momentum of his quick start to the season to help the Vikes remain undefeated.
One might think that playing in your hometown increases pressure to perform, but Pearse says that isn’t the case for him.
“Representing your own city is inspirational,” he said. In fact, the support of his family was a major reason he came back to play in Victoria.
“Having family [around me] is huge. That was one thing I was definitely missing at UBC,” said Pearse. “Having people you can talk to about anything . . . [and] food when you come home — it saves a lot of time.”
Pearse’s three older brothers, all of whom played soccer growing up, are the reason why the Vikes sophomore striker began playing the game he now loves.
“I spend a lot of time playing soccer, watching soccer — it’s my biggest hobby,” said Pearse, whose earliest soccer memory is running around as a five-year-old at Timbits soccer leagues, trying to be like his big brothers.
The simplicity of Timbits soccer is far removed from Pearse’s current reality — balancing a full-time course load, attending daily training sessions, and travelling with the team — but he says the social sacrifices he makes to focus on soccer, as well as his mechanical engineering degree, are more than worth it.
“[The schedule] definitely takes away from your social life, [but] that’s something I’ve accepted,” Pearse said.
Pearse will be needed to help generate offence for the Vikes once again on Sunday, September 15, when the Vikes play the University of Saskatchewan — a team which has struggled so far this season.
“Last year we tied [Saskatchewan], so we can’t underestimate them. We need to go for the three points,” said Pearse. “Our team in particular needs to aim to win every game. We’re at that level.”
