Who will come out on top at CBU?
By Corey LeBlanc
Highlighted by a race for the ages for individual scoring supremacy, a perfect record and high-quality play throughout, the season on the varsity pitch will wrap up this weekend with the 2023 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Women's Soccer Championship – presented by Bell – at Cape Breton University (CBU).
The Capers, who earned the opportunity by winning last season's conference banner, will host the four-day showcase on campus at Ness Timmons Field.
"It has been a great season – our players deserve a lot of credit; they have put forward a tremendous effort," said STFX X-Women head coach Graham Kennedy, who was named the Conference's Coach of the Year on Wednesday.
The White and Blue finished first in the conference with a pristine 12-0-0 record.
Leading the way for the X-Women, who tied with the CBU Capers for most goals – with 48, was fifth-year striker Amanda Smith (Ottawa, ON), who finished with 28 points – 22 goals (second in the AUS) and six assists. She tied CBU striker Ally Rowe for top spot in the U SPORTS scoring race. Smith also collected the second-most shots in the conference (65).
Junior Lauren Reid (Kanata, ON) and freshman Ava Elgood (Ottawa, ON) also had stellar scoring seasons with seven and six goals, respectively.
STFX, a U SPORTS top-10 program throughout the season, also boasted the stingiest defense in the conference, surrendering only three goals in 12 matches, while allowing the fewest shots.
Senior goalkeeper Christina Gentile (Laval, QC) posted a perfect 8-0-0 mark, while tying CBU freshman Ellie Lancaster (Fall River, NS) for the most shutouts (four). Gentile finished with the top goals against average (0.40) and second-best save percentage (.813).
Looking to the championship tournament, Kennedy said that his team wants to continue along the same path.
"Basically, we just have to keep doing what we have been doing all season," he offered, which started with game preparation and continued "right through" the finish of each match.
Kennedy added, "We don't have to try anything new and, if we are challenged, we just have to double down and be better at what we do well."
He explained that the X-Women have shown their ability to perform well against any formations and presses, so there shouldn't be anything that surprises them this weekend.
"We are ready to go," Kennedy said.
Along with STFX, the host Capers – who finished second, with a 10-1-1 mark – have a bye into the semi-final round of the six-team tournament. Should they finish the weekend as the last team standing, they will move ahead of Dalhousie for the most AUS titles ever with 13.
"Just do what we do best – we won't concern ourselves too much with the opponent," CBU head coach Stephen 'Ness' Timmons said, when asked what his team will have to do to have a shot at repeating as conference champions. "Discipline on defense and focus on dead balls will be keys for us."
Offensively, the Capers were led by the record-shattering season of senior striker Alliyah Rowe (Kitchener, ON), who was named the AUS Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season on Wednesday after setting new AUS standards for career regular season goals (56), goals in a single season (25) and goals in one game (6).
As mentioned, Rowe also tied STFX's Smith for the most points in the country (28).
Grace Hannaford (Enfield, NS) and freshman striker Leah Disipio (Ottawa, ON), with six goals apiece, were also key contributors to a potent Caper offense.
With the aforementioned Lancaster leading the way, with a 7-1-1 record, CBU surrendered only 13 goals – tied for second-least in the conference. She finished first in save percentage (.837) and second in goals against average (0.88).
When asked about playing the tournament on home turf, Timmons offered, "It is nice to be in our daily routine and have the familiarity of the home environment."
Quarterfinal contests
The women's tournament will kick off on Thursday, Oct. 26, with the Memorial Sea-Hawks (5th seed) and Dalhousie Tigers (4th) in quarterfinal action at 11 a.m.
"We expect a highly contested AUS championship with a lot of great teams. As we have learned in the past at this event, any team can win," Memorial head coach Mike Power offered.
He added, "We will enter the tournament with togetherness and belief, and we will put our best foot forward."
Junior forward Zoë Rowe (Conception Bay South, NL), with nine goals, led the Sea-Hawks in scoring, while finishing fifth in the conference. Goalkeeper Shannon Galway (St. John's, NL) posted two shutouts.
Dalhousie head coach Cindy Tye said her group is "feeling good," even though they will have to take a "longer road" to a potential 13th AUS championship title; required to play in the quarterfinal round.
She added that "consistency" and a "willingness to defend as a team," will be keys to success.
And, she noted, "We will have to take advantage of our opportunities (offensively)."
Senior striker Kaitlyn Clarke (Edmonton, AB) led the Tiger attack, with five goals, while keeper Emily Toth (Markham, ON) fashioned a 5-4-2 record, with two shutouts.
The second quarter-final match – on Thursday at 5 p.m. – will feature Saint Mary's Huskies (6th) and Acadia Axewomen (3rd).
When it comes to Saint Mary's, head coach Marisa Colzie said they will have to "focus on controlling what we can control," while improving their performance versus Acadia.
She added, "They have numerous attacking threats and are well coached, so the task at hand will require the best of us."
Noting their excitement with securing a playoff berth again this season, Colzie noted, "We know the job isn't done, and we look to our senior leadership to lead the way."
Freshman striker Cara Freeman (Halifax, NS) connected for a team-best nine goals, which placed her fourth in the conference and earned her the loop's Top Rookie Award, while junior forward Allie Martin (Halifax, NS) added six.
Head coach Amit Batra said playing with consistency will be crucial for his Axewomen.
"I know that I probably say that every year," he added, with a laugh. "Staying focused is going to be a key for us."
Fifth-year forward Sydney Kennedy (Fletchers Lake, NS), placed third in the conference with 12 goals, which led Acadia, while senior midfielder Grace Longley (Bedford, NS) tallied seven times.
Keeper Milena Ramirez (Wolfville, NS) fashioned a 7-2-2 record, with three shutouts. She finished third in the AUS in goals against average (1.09) and save percentage (.793).
He noted the unpredictability of the playoffs.
"It really is a whole new season," Batra said.
He added that his team can't wait to be a part of the "fun and excitement" of the AUS championship tournament.
"We have worked hard for this, so we are looking forward to the opportunity," Batra said.
Semi-final clashes
On Friday, Oct. 27, in semi-final play, the winner of the Memorial and Dalhousie match will face the top-ranked X-Women at 11 a.m., while the Capers (2nd) will play the winner of the Saint Mary's and Acadia contest.
After a one-day break, the victors in the semi-final matches will clash for the 2023 AUS banner on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
The AUS champions will move on to the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship – hosted by Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario – from Nov. 9 to 12.