TORONTO – Toronto Metropolitan University Athletics is pleased to announce that Matthew Laic has committed to the men's soccer team for the upcoming 2022-23 season. Laic joins a number of talented young players in this year's recruiting class.

The right back, originally from Burlington, Ontario, studied at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School while in town, but has been playing the sport overseas since 2017.

Throughout his high school years, Laic played for Croatian club GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Portuguese clubs F.C. Paços de Ferreira and F.C. Maia Lidador, representing Canada as part of the men's national U-23 Olympic team in 2019 between seasons. In July 2021, he returned back home to play for Scrosoppi FC in Milton, Ontario. 

Alongside his years of experience playing for professional-level teams, the right back was also the recipient of Top Goal Scorer and MVP awards with a winning team in the Ontario Youth Soccer League, as well as a 2012 Keele Cup Winner in the United Kingdom and a Cordial Cup 2015 Dinamo finalist in Austria. Laic was also a Croatian National U16 team player in a tournament in Bulgaria.

"Playing for both Canadian and Croatian National teams was the highlight of my career because it gave me a great sense of honour to represent both my nationalities," Laic says.

He describes himself as a hard working, passionate team player who will put his team ahead of his own individual athletic goals.

"Matthew is a student-athlete who is a perfect fit for our program in many ways," TMU's head coach Filip Prostran says.

Prostran adds that the coaching staff expect the player to make a positive impact on the program right away, "His on field ability, dedication to academics and vast playing experience are a perfect fit for our program both in the present and future."

While at TMU, Laic will be pursuing an undergraduate degree in urban and regional planning, a decision he made based on the school's "exemplary educational reputation and nationally renowned soccer program."

Laic will fit right into the determined group of students and athletes at the university, as the men's soccer team welcomes his wide range of experience and playing abilities.

Stay tuned to ryersonrams.ca for more recruit announcements as they become available.

2022-23 Men's Soccer Recruiting Class
Bilal Reslan
Matthew Laic