ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Week ending Oct. 29, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Amanda Smith
University: St. Francis Xavier University
Sport: Women’s Soccer
Position: Forward
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Year of eligibility: Fifth
Academic program: BEd
Amanda Smith of the St. Francis Xavier X-Women soccer team is the Atlantic University Sport women’s Co-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Oct. 29, 2023.
A second-year BEd student in her fifth year of eligibility from Ottawa, Ont., Smith led her X-Women to their first AUS women’s soccer title since 2016, capping off an undefeated season in which her team did not lose a regular season or post-season contest.
Smith, who was named a First Team All-Star earlier in the week, scored in each of her team’s victories – a 3-1 win over Memorial in the semi-final and a 2-1 victory over host Cape Breton University in the championship game.
Her efforts earned her the championship’s Most Valuable Player award.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Akwaima Akpan
University: St. Francis Xavier University
Sport: Women’s Rugby
Position: 2nd Row/Lock
Hometown: Halifax, N.S.
Year of eligibility: First
Academic program: BSc
Akwaima Akpan of the St. Francis Xavier X-Women rugby team is the Atlantic University Sport women’s Co-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Oct. 29, 2023.
After being named an AUS Rugby All-Star and the Rookie of the Year, Akpan scored the game-winning try as her X-Women captured the AUS title last week with a 26-22 victory over the UPEI Panthers.
Akpan was presented with the game’s Most Valuable Player award following the final whistle.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Emily Doucet
University: University of New Brunswick
Sport: Women’s Cross Country
Hometown: Aldouane, N.B.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: Science
Emily Doucet of the UNB Reds women’s cross country team is the Atlantic University Sport’s women’s Co-Athlete of the Week.
Doucet won the gold medal in the women’s 8-kilometre race at the AUS Cross Country Championships in Halifax on Saturday, crossing the finish line in a time of 31:11. By finishing first, Doucet earned AUS First Team All-Star honours as well as the AUS Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year award.
Her first-place finish also helped the Reds claim the silver medal in the women’s team competition.
The product of Aldouane, N.B. becomes the first Reds woman to win the AUS individual cross country title in over a decade, matching the feat set last set in 2012 by Frida Aspnaes.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Kyle Cordeiro
University: St. Francis Xavier University
Sport: Men’s Soccer
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Oakville, Ont.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: BBA
Kyle Cordeiro of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men soccer team is the Atlantic University Sport men’s Co-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Oct. 29, 2023.
The Oakville, Ont., product started his week by being named the 2023 AUS Men’s Soccer Most Valuable Player, as well as an AUS First Team All-Star for the third straight season.
His fine play did not end there, as he helped the X-Men erase a 29-year drought as league champs with a 4-0 win in the semi-final over the University of New Brunswick and a 2-0 win over host Cape Breton University in the championship game.
A fourth-year business student in his third year of eligibility, Cordeiro was named the Championship’s Most Valuable Player.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Jacob Benoit
University: Dalhousie University
Sport: Men’s Cross Country
Hometown: Windsor, N.S.
Year of eligibility: Fourth
Academic program: MBA
Jacob Benoit of the Dalhousie University Tigers men’s cross country team is the Atlantic University Sport men’s Co-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Oct. 29, 2023.
The fourth-year runner from Windsor, N.S., captured the men’s individual title at the AUS Cross Country Championships this past weekend, finishing the 8-kilometre loop in a time of 25:34. The win garnered Benoit a First Team All-Star nod as well as the AUS Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year award.
Benoit becomes the first Dalhousie athlete to win the men’s individual title since Matt McNeil bested the field back in 2015.
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