Eric Lajeunesse

Eric Lajeunesse
Personal information
Full name Eric James Lajeunesse
Date of birth (2003-03-10) March 10, 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2011–2021 Ottawa St. Anthony Futuro Academy
2021–2022 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– UBC Thunderbirds 40 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Whitecaps FC Academy 12 (0)
2023–2024 Pacific FC 20 (0)
2023 → Nautsa’mawt FC (loan) 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 16, 2024

Eric James Lajeunesse (born March 10, 2003) is a Canadian soccer player.

Early life

From 2011 to 2021, he played with the Ottawa St. Anthony Futuro Academy.[1] In 2019, he had a five-week trial with English club Plymouth Argyle's U18 team.[2] In September 2021, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps academy.[2]

University career

In 2022, Lajeunesse began attending the University of British Columbia, where he played for the men's soccer team.[3] While at UBC, he pursued a biology degree.[4] On September 25, 2022, he scored his first goal in a 4-0 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies.[5] In his rookie season, he was named the Canada West Rookie of the Year and the U Sports Rookie of the Year.[6] In 2023, he was named to both the Canada West and U Sports First Team All-Stars.[7][8]

Club career

In 2022, he played with the Whitecaps FC Academy in League1 British Columbia.[9] He made his debut on May 22 against Victoria Highlanders FC.[10]

At the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft, Lajeunesse was selected in the first round (6th overall) by Pacific FC.[11][12] After attending pre-season with the club, he signed a U-Sports development contract with the club in April 2023, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.[13] He made his professional debut on April 21 in a 2023 Canadian Championship match against Cavalry FC.[14] He also spent some time on loan with Pacific's League1 British Columbia affiliate Nautsa’mawt FC in 2023.[15] In August 2023, he departed the club to return to university, per the terms of his U Sports contract.[16][17] Pacific subsequently chose to retain his rights for the following season.[18] In April 2024, he signed another U Sports contract with the club for the 2024 season.[19] He again departed the club in August 2024 to return to university with the club retaining his rights for 2025.[20]

Career statistics

As of August 17, 2024[21]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Whitecaps FC Academy 2022 League1 British Columbia 12 0 – – – 12 0
Pacific FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 6 0 0 0 1 0 – 7 0
2024 14 0 0 0 4 0 – 18 0
Total 20 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 25 0
Nautsa’mawt FC (loan) 2023[15] League1 British Columbia 4 0 – – – 0
Career total 36 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 41 0

References

  1. ^ Parmar, Sanjeev [@parmarsports] (September 3, 2021). "After 3620 days at Futuro Soccer Academy, Captain Eric Lajeunesse (2003) has signed with WhitecapsFC" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b McColl, Michael (May 20, 2022). "Vancouver Whitecaps U19 2022 League1 BC squad profile (Part One – The Defence)".
  3. ^ "Eric Lajeunesse UBC profile". UBC Thunderbirds.
  4. ^ Parisis, Quentin (May 30, 2024). "Éric Lajeunesse, l'étudiant et athlète modèle du Pacific FC" [Éric Lajeunesse, the model student and athlete of Pacific FC]. Canadian Premier League (in French).
  5. ^ Sargeant, Jeff (September 25, 2022). "Relentless attack powers UBC to 4-0 win over Huskies". UBC Thunderbirds.
  6. ^ Sargeant, Jeff (December 15, 2022). "Eric Lajeunesse selected sixth overall by Pacific FC in CPL-U SPORTS Draft". UBC Thunderbirds.
  7. ^ "SOC: UBC players headline All-Star teams". Canada West Universities Athletic Association. October 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Sargeant, Jeff (November 2, 2023). "Sebastian Dzikowski named Player of the Year, Fuerst and Lee also honoured by Canada West". UBC Thunderbirds.
  9. ^ "Whitecaps FC announce rosters for League1 BC". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. May 17, 2022.
  10. ^ Fossey, Maxim (May 22, 2022). "League1 BC: Women get the win, men earn a draw". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  11. ^ Dheensaw, Cleve (December 16, 2022). "PFC selects Lajeunesse and Torresan in CPL-U Sports draft". Times Colonist.
  12. ^ Honeysett, Brett (December 16, 2022). "Pacific FC selects UBC's Lajeunesse, Trinity Western's Torresan in CPL U SPORTS draft".
  13. ^ Longo, Jack (April 12, 2023). "PFC shows faith in youth development with signing of four young Canadian players". Pacific FC.
  14. ^ Longo, Jack (April 21, 2023). "Match Report – Pacific FC v Cavalry FC: Magic of the cup spurs Tridents onto quarter-finals". Pacific FC.
  15. ^ a b "Eric Lajeunesse L1BC Stats". League1 British Columbia.
  16. ^ Longo, Jack (August 16, 2023). "Lajeunesse returns to University of British Columbia following end of U SPORTS contract". Pacific FC.
  17. ^ Jacques, John (August 17, 2023). "Pacific Draft Pick Eric Lajeunesse Set For Thunderbirds Return". Northern Tribune.
  18. ^ ""Maturity and Expertise": PFC U SPORTS Draft pick Lajeunesse talks draft, first professional season and returning to school". Pacific FC. December 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "Pacific FC Signs Eric Lajeunesse on U SPORTS Contact". Pacific FC. April 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "Pacific FC Defender Eric Lajeunesse Returns to UBC". Pacific FC. August 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Eric Lajeunesse at Soccerway