Capers look to re-write history at home
By Corey LeBlanc
Seven is recognized traditionally as a lucky number.
Fans will find out this weekend if that holds true for the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers, who will be shooting for their record-setting seventh consecutive league title, as they host the 2023 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men's Soccer Championship – presented by Bell – at Ness Timmons Field.
Noting that it is "what we have been working for the last couple of months," head coach Deano Morley said that his Capers are excited to have a great opportunity to make history. If successful, CBU will eclipse a near 70-year-old mark of six straight AUS championships won by the UNB Reds from 1949-1954
"We feel exceedingly confident at home," Morley added, noting that they have not lost at home since 2014.
CBU, with a 9-0-3 mark, finished first in the 2023 AUS regular season; two points ahead of the STFX X-Men (9-2-1). With those records, the heated rivals earned first-round byes in the six-team tournament.
Morley said that they are prepared, pointing to the "team approach" that has been successful in a regular season where the Capers went undefeated.
CBU, who have been ranked third or higher in the U SPORTS top-10 since the season kicked off, were led offensively by junior forward Owen Sheppard (St. John's, NL), who finished tied for first in the AUS with nine goals, while All-Canadian midfielder Zé Cunha (Cascais, Portugal) added five of his own.
Behind them, goalkeeper Daniel Clarke (Milton Keynes, England) has anchored a stellar defense that surrendered the second-least goals in the conference (12).
Clarke, a 2022 AUS First Team All-Star, finished third in goals against average (1.00) and save percentage (.808), while posting an unbeaten 7-0-3 record, with two shutouts.
"Like I keep saying, Daniel is the best keeper in Canada," Morley stated.
Looking to the weekend, Morley said the Capers realize that it is not going to be easy when it comes to defending their conference title. Nevertheless, he noted, his team believes that they are the best one in the conference.
"We are focussing on ourselves; we are ready to go, and we love where we are at," he added.
On a streak
As for the second-seeded X-Men – they wrapped up the AUS regular season on a six-match winning streak.
"It has been a big challenge," said White and Blue head coach Graham Kennedy, who was named the conference's Coach of the Year on Wednesday.
Bitten frequently by the injury bug, he noted that STFX rarely – if ever – fielded a consistent starting 11 this season.
"It is probably the worst it has been in my career," Kennedy offered of the health challenges for his roster.
Nevertheless, the U SPORTS top-10 ranked X-Men – with 33 goals for and just 11 against – led the conference in both categories.
Junior midfielder, and newly minted 2023 AUS Men's Soccer MVP, Kyle Cordeiro (Oakville, ON) tied CBU's Sheppard for first in league scoring with nine, while third-year midfielder Logan Rieck (Cambridge, ON) placed third with eight goals.
"We are going to have to get top-notch goalkeeping," Kennedy said, in commenting on keys to playoff success.
The tandem of Sam Diltz (Newmarket, ON) and Will Veinot (Bedford, NS) finished with 0.88 and 1.00 goals against averages, respectively. Diltz, who was 5-2-1 with four shutouts, topped the conference with a .816 save percentage. Veinot, at 4-0-0 – with one shutout – placed fifth (.750).
If they can "manage minutes" – and stay as healthy as possible – Kennedy said that his X-Men will be able to compete with anyone they face in the semi-final or final matches.
"We are going to be ready to go," he added.
Action kicks off
Tournament play gets underway on Thursday, Oct. 26, with a pair of quarterfinal matches, beginning with the Saint Mary's Huskies (5th seed) and Memorial Sea-Hawks (4th) at 2 p.m.
"We feel that we have performed well throughout the season, but we also feel strongly that our best games are ahead [of us]," Memorial head coach Jake Stanford said. "And, we aim to perform at the highest level we can offer."
Colin Connors and Cabhan O'Keefe, with four and three goals, respectively, led a balanced Sea-Hawk offensive attack, while fifth-year senior captain Harry Carter and veteran goalkeeper Louis-Charles Vaillancourt , who gave up 12 goals in 11 matches, will anchor the defense.
As for the Huskies, junior defender Woody Bain (Dartmouth, NS) scored a team-high seven goals, which placed him fourth in the conference, while midfielders Colby Mercer (Beaverbank, NS) was third in the loop with 30 shots. He finished with three goals.
Between the pipes, third-year goalkeeper Ryan Davis (Lake Loon, NS) topped the conference with a 0.70 goals against average, while finishing fourth with a .800 save percentage. He also recorded four shutouts, tying him with STFX's Diltz for the most in the AUS.
"It is always a great time of the year when you get to the post-season," Saint Mary's head coach Mesut Mert said. "We are going to have to rely on our experience. Our team has plenty of players who have been through this before, so we are going to have to use that to our advantage."
In the second quarterfinal, at 8 p.m., the Dalhousie Tigers (6th) and UNB Reds (3rd) will take the pitch.
Although the playoffs are a "new season," Dalhousie head coach Alan Jazic said his Tigers will look to build on a very strong stretch in the second half of the regular season.
He added, "We have the players and the team to do it, and we are hungry," noting their goal is an AUS banner.
This season, junior midfielder Kyle Routledge (Halifax, NS) led the Black and Gold with four goals, while freshman Sinclair Astridge (Victoria, BC) played the bulk of the minutes at keeper, finishing with a 4-3-1 record and two shutouts.
"We have to trust ourselves – and our plan – and execute," said Jazic. "We need to play together and show discipline. If we can do that, I know this group can achieve great things."
Jazic added his team's depth will be key, especially as the sixth seed, considering that capturing the title requires winning three matches in four days.
"We have the quality and the character to challenge and compete for the championship," he said.
Dal's opponent – UNB – is excited to continue their run of making the AUS playoffs, according to Reds head coach Barry Morrison.
"Our goal this season has been to contend at playoff time, and we feel that we are in a position to do that this weekend," he said.
Noting the "great quality" of the Tigers' second-half performance in the AUS regular season, Morrison offered, "We are looking forward to a hard-fought quarterfinal."
Fifth-year striker Keji Adeniyi (London, ON), the 2022 AUS Most Valuable Player, led the Reds with six goals, placing him fifth in the conference. Another conference all-star – junior striker Luke Rosettani (Ottawa, ON) – completed the vaunted UNB one-two offensive punch with five goals.
Freshman Mahmoud Moustafa (Stratford, PE) carried the mail between the pipes for the Reds, finishing with a 6-3-3 mark, with two shutouts. His 44 saves were the third-most in the conference.
As for the top seeds – CBU and STFX – Morrison said that they have had tremendous seasons and are going to be difficult for any team to face.
He added, "But, we feel we have shown this season that we are capable to compete with both, and hope to earn the opportunity to face them again this weekend."
Semi-final contests
On Friday, Oct. 27, in semi-final play, the winner of the Saint Mary's and Memorial match will face the top-ranked Capers at 2 p.m., while the X-Men will play the winner of the Dalhousie and UNB game at 8 p.m.
The winners of the semi-final matches will play for the 2023 AUS banner on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m.
All championship tournament games – both women's and men's – will be webcast live at AUStv.ca
The AUS will receive two berths in the 2023 USPORTS Men's Soccer Championship – hosted by Cape Breton University Athletics – from Nov. 9 to 12. They will go to the Capers as host and the AUS conference champions. If CBU captures the conference championship, the other finalist will receive the other spot in the tournament.
For more information on the U SPORTS championship at CBU, visit https://usports.ca/en/championships/soccer/m
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