X-Men look to stay atop AUS men's soccer ladder

STFX looking to stay on top

HALIFAX, NS (Aug. 30, 2024) – Any team looking to rise to the top of the Atlantic University Sport men’s soccer ladder knows they must go through either STFX or Cape Breton University.

And with the X-Men and Capers receiving all of the first-place votes in the annual coaches poll – STFX with 7, CBU with 3 – it does not appear either has any intention of giving up an inch.

STFX comes into the season as the league’s defending champs, halting a run of six straight titles collected by CBU (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022). With the title of champ comes the knowledge that you will be getting the best each team has to offer night in and night out, and STFX head coach Graham Kennedy says his team welcomes it.

“We look at it as a privilege to get everyone’s ‘A’ game. It’s one of my favourite things about our team,” he said. “These guys love the challenge of competitive pressure – it’s what drives them.”

Back in the fold this season is the reigning AUS Men’s Soccer Most Valuable Player, Kyle Cordeiro. The midfielder who was also named a First-Team All-Star (for the third straight season) and the AUS Men’s Soccer Championship MVP, will be joined by fellow veterans Charlie Waters, Logan Rieck and a host of others as they try keep the AUS banner in Antigonish.

“We’re a year older, a year more experienced, and we have a better understanding of what it takes to win,” added Kennedy. “We also know what losing feels like, and that helps us keep everything in proper prospective.”

While the Capers saw their six-year stranglehold on the AUS title loosen, their consolation prize ended up being the 2023 U SPORTS national title. The Capers hosted the event last November and went 3-0 on their way to winning the program’s second national title – the first coming in 2017.

In a great story posted on the Capers website, head coach Deano Morley talked about what comes after winning a national title and how to maintain a winning culture.

“Yes, the next morning after winning Nationals, I was recruiting,” Morley told writer, Iain King. “The biggest fear after achieving what we did was not being ready for what happens next. It’s what you do after you win that counts most.”

While the Capers said goodbye to graduating captain Ze Cunha, they return some key components from last year’s team – including all-world goalkeeper Daniel Clarke and Owen Sheppard, who scored three goals during the national tournament to be named the event’s MVP.

Morley’s Capers begin their season Friday night against the host UNB Reds, while Kennedy’s X-Men head to Halifax to take on the Saint Mary’s Huskies. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.

Other games Friday night 7:15 p.m. games include Acadia taking on host Mount Allison and Memorial battling UPEI.

Moncton and Dalhousie will kick off their respective seasons against each other on Saturday at 5:15 p.m.

To round out the long weekend, Cape Breton takes on UPEI (1:15 p.m.); Memorial meets Saint Mary’s (3:15 p.m.); Mount Allison travels to UNB (3:15 p.m.) and Moncton squares off against Acadia (7:15 p.m.) on Sunday.