(HALIFAX, N.S.) The Cape Breton Capers, who've won six consecutive AUS men's soccer titles, are expected to make it seven according to the league's head coaches.
The results of the 2023 coaches' poll were unveiled Thursday ahead of this week's season openers and the Capers, who finished fourth at the 2022 U SPORTS championship, received eight first-place votes from the conference coaches and a total of 81 points.
The AUS soccer pre-season coaches' poll is voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
The reigning champion Capers finished first in the 2022 regular season with a 10-0-2 record. In the postseason, they defeated the Moncton Aigles Bleus 2-1 in the semi-final round, moving on to top the STFX X-Men 2-0 in the conference final, to earn the 2022 AUS banner.
Head coaches gave STFX X-Men 73 points and one first-place vote heading into the 2023 season. Last year, the X-Men finished the regular season second in the conference standings, with a 7-3-2 record, before being defeated by Cape Breton in the playoff semi-final.
The UNB REDS finished third in the coaches' poll with 55 points. The REDS finished third in the AUS regular season standings last season with a 7-3-2 record. They downed the Dalhousie Tigers in the playoff quarterfinals, but were knocked out 2-0 by STFX in the semi-final round.
This year's AUS Men's Soccer Championship will be hosted jointly with the women's championship by the Cape Breton Capers in Sydney, N.S. Oct. 26 to 29.
The 2023 regular season opens Friday evening with the Memorial Sea-Hawks hosting the Tigers, the Axemen hosting the Saint Mary's Huskies and the UPEI Panthers hosting the Mount Allison Mounties.
All 10 AUS men's soccer teams will be in action this weekend. League games and championships will be available live on AUStv at www.AUStv.ca
For a preview of the 2023 AUS men's soccer season, click here. Find the complete AUS men's soccer schedule here.