Capers shooting for record seventh consecutive conference banner
By Corey LeBlanc
Seven won't be a lucky number for the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers this season, if their opponents in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's soccer have anything to say about it. There are plenty of potential heirs to the conference throne waiting to prevent them from capturing their record-breaking seventh consecutive league banner.
No other program in AUS history has won that many men's soccer championships in a row.
"Everything that we have done throughout the summer, it has been with the same focus," CBU head coach Deano Morley said.
It is a steely-eyed one that begins with scoring another AUS crown before reaching the "ultimate goal" of the program winning its second U SPORTS national title.
Morley explained that the Capers have been emphasizing establishing the "discipline and standards" required to succeed in championship-level matches.
Returnees that will be a key to achieving their goals – who helped CBU finish the 2022 regular season with a 10-0-2 record, and snag the conference banner with a 2-0 victory over their heated rivals – the STFX X-Men, include dynamic midfielder Ze Cunha (Cascais, Portugal).
"We expect him to have a standout season," Morley offered, calling him "one of the most skilled players in the AUS."
Midfielder Jacob Spizzirri (Woodbridge, ON), the 2022 AUS rookie of the year, along with keeper Daniel Clarke (Milton Keynes, England) are other important Capers who will be helping nine newcomers make the transition to playing at the AUS level.
"They have a great attitude and work ethic," Morley said of his 2023 recruiting class.
If the season unfolds as planned, he explained, AUS fans should expect "more goal scoring" from a program already widely-known for its vaunted attack.
Morley thinks the Capers have the chance to do "something special" in 2023.
X-perienced line-up
When it comes to STFX, a veteran-laden line-up returns for head coach Graham Kennedy.
"There's no way to hide from it – we should contend," he offered of his line-up that is top heavy with fourth and fifth-year student-athletes.
Kennedy added, "We have high expectations for this season."
He explained that his seasoned student-athletes are "hungry to wrap up their [X-Men] careers with a great story."
The student-athletes looking to pen that final chapter in White and Blue are defenders Lewis Dye (Fall River, NS), a second-team AUS all-star in 2022; forward Blake Fenton (Halifax, NS), keeper Will Venoit (Bedford, NS) and Jack Kennedy (Antigonish, NS) – who the STFX mentor said were part of one of the strongest recruiting classes in her tenure.
The list of key returnees for the X-Men also includes a pair of AUS second-team all-star midfielders from last season: Logan Rieck (Cambridge, ON) and Kyle Cordeiro (Oakville, ON).
As for newcomers to the White and Blue, one is a familiar face to AUS men's soccer fans: Charlie Waters (Blackpool, UK), the former CBU conference all-star and All-Canadian. Freshman midfielder Nico Goldsztein (Winnipeg, MB), forward Myroslav Zastavnyy (Toronto, ON) and defender Max Cameron (North Vancouver, BC) have also arrived on the Antigonish campus.
"We have competition at every spot, which is what you want," Kennedy noted of his 31-player roster.
To be successful in 2023, he offered, the X-Women will have to couple their anticipated scoring prowess with strong defense.
"If all goes well, and with a little bit of luck, we should contend for an AUS championship."
Reds still knocking
If CBU and STFX, once again, are considered favourites to capture the conference banner this season, then the UNB Reds are one of the programs nipping at their heels.
"We are really positive about where we are at," Barry Morrison – the 2022 AUS coach of the year – said of his program.
He added, "We have – kind of – been knocking on that door," of challenging the conference's front runners in recent campaigns.
With the upheaval caused by the global pandemic, including the loss of the 2020 AUS season, Morrison noted that his Reds – post-COVID – had to undergo a "reset," when it comes to gaining experience at this level.
"It has taken time for them to make an impact," he explained, while noting many of his student-athletes – now entering their third AUS seasons – are "really experienced."
The electrifying forward pair – 2022 conference first-team AUS all-stars Luke Rosettani (Kanata, ON) and Keji Adeniyi (Nottingham, England), who also earned conference MVP and an All-Canadian nod – are back this season to help lead the charge.
"They had really great performances," Morrison said of their achievements in 2022.
Noting that fatigue may have been a factor in the pair's slowed scoring production in the second half of the season, he believes that will be addressed by the Reds "improved depth."
Morrison also expects another stellar campaign from second-team all-star midfielder Lars Gierull (Ottawa, ON).
"I think we have a really great supporting cast," he said, noting how their strong play will also benefit UNB's "top talent."
Morrison, as usual, expects another highly-competitive AUS season.
"It is going to be a lot of fun."
Huskies expand pack
In the south end of Halifax, the Saint Mary's Huskies are "looking forward" to kicking off the season, according to head coach Mesut Mert.
"We wanted to be better prepared for the challenge of playing back-to-back matches," he explained of the program's focus on adding "more depth" to the roster.
Mert added, "This season, we won't have to rely on our first 11 or 12 players as much."
And, in improving that depth, he noted that the Saint Mary's program moved away from its philosophy of recent years to seek out players mainly from Halifax and environs.
"We recruited outside the province for this season," Mert said, explaining how it has become necessary in order to compete with the upper echelon of the conference.
Freshman forwards Lassana Maiga and Ishamani Lewin – both of Winnipeg, Manitoba – and second-year midfielder Jalen Loague (London, ON) are expected to bring an infusion of talent to the offense.
Midfielder Scott Firth (Windsor Junction, NS), who has tremendous offensive upside, will need a few games to adjust to the physicality of the AUS, according to Mert.
And, of course, junior wing-forward Sean Freeman (Halifax, NS), who has developed into one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the conference, is back for another season in Maroon and White.
The Huskies, who finished fourth in the 2022 regular season (5-3-3), were eliminated by Moncton in an AUS tournament quarter-final.
Although the "ultimate goal" is to secure a spot in the nationals, Mert said, "Our first priority is to make the [AUS] playoffs.
He added, "It is all about getting better and being ready to compete at the end of the season."
Mert described each AUS contest as a "challenge."
"Nothing comes easy in our league."
Up for the challenge
Seeded fifth in the 2022 conference playoff tournament, after the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus bested the higher-seeded Huskies, they bowed out to the Capers in a hard-fought 2-1 defeat in a semi-final match on their home turf.
"We are very excited to be together again," Moncton head coach Younes Bouida said, adding "things are shaping up well."
He noted their "tough" AUS schedule this season, which includes a pair of matches versus conference heavyweights CBU and STFX.
"But, we will be ready for it and up for the challenge," Bouida added.
Noting that they are "more experienced," he explained, Moncton came into training camp with what he described as a "mindset of professionalism."
Bouida added that Les Aigles Bleus have also focused on "the value of the program," as part of putting forth a strong team effort this season.
"We are going to need everyone to contribute and to play for each other."
Tigers ready to roar
The Dalhousie Tigers are looking to move up the standings in 2023, after finishing sixth – at 5-3-4 – last season, before being eliminated in an AUS tournament quarter-final match by UNB.
"It has been a wonderful off-season, especially when it comes to recruiting," head coach Alan Jazic said, adding that his varsity program has added "a lot of good pieces," including a group from the Maritimes.
"That's pretty impressive," the Tiger mentor said of freshman Moe Wahdan (Halifax, NS), who tallied nine goals in this summer's NSSL Premier League, as an 18-year-old.
He added, "I haven't been at a game where Moe hasn't scored."
Wahdan, who will miss the first three to four weeks of the regular season recovering from injury, and freshman forward Ben Thompson (Hammonds Plains, NS) are expected to make an "immediate impact."
Ben Hashimoto (Charlottetown, PE) and Jacob Moore (Fredericton, NB) round out the east coast quartet.
"We are really happy," Jazic offered of his class of first-year Tigers.
Those newcomers join a roster of mainly third-year players with the Tigers, including standouts striker Luke Berryman (Halifax, NS) and midfielder Suliman Elomrani (Halifax, NS), who – when he is on top of his game – is "the best player in the league," according to his head coach. AUS second-team all-star midfielder Kyle Routledge (Halifax, N.S.) – is also back in the Dal line-up.
Noting that the Tigers are "continuing to gel," Jazic said, "We are really excited to get going."
He explained that the program wants to build on last season's playoff experience as a "young group."
"It was a huge stepping stone for us," Jazic said.
He noted, with improved consistency, the Tigers expect to be back in the playoff hunt; with an eye towards improving on its sixth-seed position in 2022.
"You have to play at a high standard," Jazic offered, when asked about the parity in the conference.
He added, "There are no easy games."
Season openers
Along with the six playoff teams from last season, the Memorial SeaHawks, Acadia Axemen, UPEI Panthers and Mount Allison Mounties will be vying for a return to the year-end post-season tournament in 2023.
The opening matches of the regular season are set for Friday, Sept. 1, when the Dalhousie Tigers face the Memorial SeaHawks in St. John's (7:15 p.m. NDT), and the Saint Mary's Huskies challenge the Acadia Axemen in Wolfville (7:15 p.m. ADT).
The 2023 Subway AUS Women's Soccer Championships – hosted by the Capers at Ness Timmons Soccer Field on the Sydney campus – are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26 to Sunday, Oct. 29.