Axewomen vying for back-to-back conference banners
By Corey LeBlanc
Fans should expect a competitive Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s soccer season in 2022.
That is a common theme in conversation with coaches on the eve of another campaign.
“It is going to be tough—I think at least six teams could win a championship,” STFX X-Women head coach Graham Kennedy says.
Amit Batra—head coach of the defending champion Acadia Axewomen—says they are “taking nothing for granted.”
“We know how high the level of competition is in the AUS,” he adds.
Memorial Sea-Hawks head coach Mike Power predicts the league will be “super tight.”
“We have high expectations for this season, but we know it is not going to be easy,” Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers head coach Stephen ‘Ness’ Timmons says.
The expected parity comes on the heels of a tightly-contested AUS playoff tournament last season, one that ended with the Axewomen shading the X-Women 1-0. Both squads punched their tickets to the title tilt with wins over higher-seeded opponents; the Axewomen ousted the Capers, while the X-Women defeated the first-place Sea-Hawks.
The Mount Allison Mounties and Dalhousie Tigers dropped quarter-final matches, while the UNB Reds and UPEI Panthers will be shooting for a return to the playoffs.
Noting that he is not trying to sound cliché, Batra says his Axewomen are focused on “one practice and one game at a time." As for their playing style, one that focuses on maintaining possession and “playing hard to win the ball back” when they lose it, he adds, “I think that we are entertaining.” Batra notes the program is “fortunate” to return a “large core group.” Describing the Axewomen as “team-oriented,” he shies away from singling out players, when asked who will have to lead the way.
“It isn’t about one [or two] players shouldering the load,” Batra says, pointing out that their balanced attack—particularly in the playoffs—is an example of that key to success.
Lauren Jodrey (Bedford, NS), Madicynn Harnish (Lower Sackville, NS), Mya Harnish (Halifax, NS) and Grace Longley (Halifax, NS) are amongst the crucial student-athletes shooting for back-to-back titles.
The Bluenose flavour to the Acadia recruiting class includes Abbey Aucoin (Dartmouth)—who won bronze in soccer at the recent Canada Summer Games—Alexa Derrick (Port Williams, NS) and Jenna Turner (New Ross, NS), who are products of the Valley United soccer program.
Isabelle Boult (Ottawa, ON) and Jaclyn Delahunt (Cookstown, ON) are first-year Axewomen also expected to play a key role.
Power says his Sea-Hawks came into training camp “fit and motivated,” with a line-up featuring “a lot of fifth-year experience.”
“Hard-working, organized, fit and committed,” he answers, in describing his Sea-Hawks when they are playing well.
Goalkeeper Sydney Walsh (St. John’s, NL) will anchor a talented group of returnees that includes centre-back Briana Pender (Goulds, NL) and winger Claire Langille (Fall River, NS). There is also Zoe Rowe (Conception Bay South, NL), who Power expects to have a “breakout season.”
With the return of a veteran core—one not only talented, but also ripe with leadership—the Capers are ready to battle for a banner.
Goalkeeper Haley Kardas (Halifax, NS)—along with senior co-captains Amelia Carlini (Ottawa, ON), Rebecca Lambke (Antigonish, NS) and Fatou Ndiaye (Pierrefonds, QC)—will lead a line-up that has added a strong recruiting class.
Maddie Hatfield (Dartmouth, NS), Grace Hannaford (Elmsdale, NS), Makenna Bowser (Bible Hill, NS) and Morgan Harris (Mount Pearl, NL) are key members of a recruiting class, one that has been depleted with the loss of Lauren Rowe (Conception Bay South, NL) and Charly Mitchell (Sherwood Park, AB), who will miss the season with torn ACLs.
The season-ending injury bug has also already bitten returnees Erin Freeman (Halifax, NS) and Janelle Tierney (Sydney River, NS).
“We are dealing with some big losses, but we should be OK,” Timmons says.
With a year of gaining valuable experience, including a run to the AUS championship game, Kennedy expects his “young and athletic” X-Women—whose roster includes 18 student-athletes in their first or second year of eligibility—to be competitive.
“We are still not very experienced, but we are talented,” he says.
Kennedy adds that his recruits “match up nicely” with the returning cast; they have already developed a strong chemistry.
When asked about keys to success, he offers the “biggest thing” will be “attacking in the attacking half,” finishing off scoring chances in the final third.
Kennedy says it is “imperative” that forward Amanda Smith (Ottawa, ON) and goalkeeper Christina Gentile (Laval, QC)—top players at their positions—have strong campaigns.
Fifth-year midfielder Jenna Burrows (New Glasgow, NS) will also be a key leader.
The sophomore quartet of the Steen sisters—Emma and Abby (Stittsville, ON)—along with Caitlin Crichton (Ottawa, ON) and Brynn Jurus (Ancaster, ON), is expected to build on strong first seasons.
Recruits Sammy Macdonald (Calgary, AB), Aidan Miller (Chilliwack, BC) and Meg Hamilton (Greely, ON), along with Canada Games’ athletes Meghan Cole (Moncton, NB) and Rylin Matheson (Dartmouth, NS), have already made contributions.
Kennedy points out an overriding factor—“the big if”—that his coaching counterparts would no doubt agree with.
“So much depends on if we stay healthy.”
AUS women's soccer kicks off this weekend, starting on Friday when Saint Mary's and STFX host their home openers. Check out the full regular season schedule here.