(SYDNEY, N.S.) The U SPORTS no. 1-ranked Cape Breton Capers are AUS champions for the second consecutive year after defeating the UNB Varsity Reds 1-0 in the Subway AUS Men's Soccer Championship final Sunday in Sydney, N.S.
The lone goal of the game was scored just over 15 minutes in by Capers team captain and AUS all-star Stuart Heath (Belfast, Northern Ireland). AUS rookie of the year Charlie Waters (Lancashire, England) earned the assist, making a cross into the box that was headed into the corner by Heath.
With another two goals and three assists in the Capers' semifinal win Friday—having a hand in all six Capers goals of the tournament—Waters was named the championship MVP Sunday.
The Capers outshot the Varsity Reds 10-5 in the match and controlled possession for three quarters of the game.
The Reds applied pressure during the final 15 minutes but the Capers defence held strong and Ben Jackson (Bury, England) turned aside all shots he faced.
Marcus Lees (Barrie, Ont.) was named Subway Player of the Game for UNB, while Cory Bent (Preston, England) earned the honour in the win for Cape Breton.
The Capers have remained undefeated this 2017 season, finishing with a regular season record of 11-0-1 and an AUS postseason record of 2-0.
The championship win marks the Capers' first-ever back-to-back titles in school history.
With two Atlantic conference berths this season in the national championship, both the Capers and the Varsity Reds will travel to Kamloops, B.C. for the U SPORTS Men's Soccer Championship being hosted by Thompson Rivers University Nov. 9-12.
Source: With files from Cape Breton Capers Athletics Communications