Capers shooting for a sixth consecutive conference crown
By Corey LeBlanc
There are plenty of challengers primed to dethrone the five-time defending champion Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men’s soccer.
Coaches are anticipating a highly-competitive battle for the 2022 banner.
“I am extremely pleased—everyone has come in with an incredible work ethic,” CBU head coach Deano Morley says. He adds that everyone understands the “expectations involved with building a championship program.” CBU defeated the Saint Mary’s Huskies for the AUS championship in 2021 and went on to win bronze at nationals,
“We have high expectations,” Saint Mary’s head coach Mesut Mert says.
He adds, “It is not going to be easy—we are going to have to match everyone’s intensity.” The Huskies earned last season’s spot in the AUS final with a victory over the higher-ranked and regular-season champion STFX X-Men.
“We are going to have a very young team with plenty of talent,” X-Men head coach Graham Kennedy says. They will be without goalkeeper Seamus MacDonald, defender Josh Read and midfielder Nick Aquino, a graduated trio that helped form the team’s spine. Noting their high turnover, Kennedy concedes it is difficult to predict where they could finish.
“That would be a very, very lofty goal,” he says of continuing their five-year streak of finishing top-two in the regular season, while adding not making the playoffs would be a “huge disappointment.”
Featuring nine first-year student-athletes, head coach Barry Morrison describes his UNB REDS as “heading into a new phase.”
“We are setting the stage for the next few years,” he says.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean the REDS—a mainstay in the top-four of the conference recently—are expecting to be a factor.
“We have a dynamic group—we are going to be exciting to watch,” Morrison adds.
The UPEI Panthers, who finished fifth last season and were eliminated by the Huskies in the quarterfinals, are eyeing a move into the upper echelon.
“We are really excited,” head coach Lewis Page says of a program returning its “whole squad.” He adds, “Our experience is going to be a big help.”
“We want to put ourselves into that conversation” as one of the top teams in the AUS, Page explains.
The Memorial Sea-Hawks, who secured the final 2021 playoff spot before losing to the REDS in the quarterfinals, will be seeking a similar climb, while the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus and Dalhousie Tigers will be working towards a return to the playoffs.
Morley says the Capers are not focused on winning a sixth consecutive banner.
“We concentrate on the game in front of us,” he adds, while “taking one step at a time.”
CBU returns a bevy of talent and experience, including sophomore goalkeepers Daniel Clarke (Milton Keyes, UK) and Jordan Watson (Georgetown, ON).
Along with All-Canadians Jose de Cunha (Cascais, Portugal) and Kairo Coore (Whitby, ON), who led the nation in goals, the Capers expect strong seasons from returnees Jamie Watson (Kirkcaldy, UK) and Anthony Stolar (Mississauga, ON).
Key newcomers include Jacob Spizzirri (Woodbridge, ON) and Max Piepgrass (Calgary, AB).
“We are going to have a really well-rounded team,” Morley says.
Noting that they are not going to surprise anyone this season, Mert says his Huskies will rely on their depth.
“It is going to make it very easy to manage games,” he adds of the versatility provided by a deep roster.
Kwaku Korankye (Halifax, NS), Adam Dunsworth (Halifax, NS), Cian Tousignant-Osiadhail (Timberlea, NS) and Sumit Malik (Dartmouth, NS) are amongst those expected to help offset the “massive” loss of Alex Black, who has graduated.
“They are going to make some noise,” Mert offers of a recruiting class he expects “to make a difference right away.”
Morrison expects the same from newcomers, which will be guided by the “leadership and excitement” provided by returnees Keji Adeniyi (Manfield, UK), Olivier Menard (Ottawa, ON) and Lars Gierull (Ottawa, ON).
“We expect to be quite strong down the spine,” Page offers.
That Panther spine, which starts with goalkeeper Evan Couturier (Lower Coverdale, NB), also includes Colin Curran (Montague, PE), Max Van Wiechen (Montague, PE), Duncan Murray (Damascus, NB) and Nathan Chow (Campbell River, BC).
Noting that his club tries to be “fast, forward and aggressive,” Page says they will “work hard to break you down.”
As for the X-Men, they will rely heavily on an experienced back line that includes Lewis Dye (Fall River, NS), Luke Green (Fall River, NS), Fergus Hall (Campbell River, BC) and Jack Kennedy (Antigonish, NS).
A young midfield, which boasts a “good sprinkling of skill” according to Kennedy, will be led by Kyle Cordeiro (Oakville, ON), Logan Rieck (Cambridge, ON) and Max Bodurtha (Halifax, NS). Kennedy notes that goals may be an issue, especially in “big games” that are usually tight and low scoring.
Anders Good (Moncton, NB) and Ethan Larsen (Fall River, NS), who represented their provinces in the recent Canada Games, along with Samuel Barrowcliffe (Princeton, ON), are amongst the newcomers expected to contribute “right away.”
Kennedy praises the “team first” mentality and “camaraderie” on his X-Men.
“I also love their energy and spirit.”
The 2022 AUS men's soccer regular season kicks off on Friday night. Find the full schedule here.