Dalhousie captures 2025 AUS men’s soccer title in overtime thriller

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) The Dalhousie Tigers are the 2025 AUS men's soccer champions following a dramatic come-from-behind 3–2 overtime win in the title match Sunday afternoon.

Mohammed Wahdan led the Tigers' offence with a hat trick, earning Boston Pizza Player of the Game and AUS Championship Most Valuable Player honours.

It marks the 14th conference title for the Dalhousie program and its first since 2008. The CAPERS and Tigers will both represent the AUS at the upcoming U SPORTS national championship, set for Nov. 6–9 in Toronto.

CAPERS striker Amadou Bayo opened the scoring in the 10th minute, getting to a long through ball from AUS second-team all-star and AUS all-rookie team member Yohann Hebert, and one-touching it into the net.

Dalhousie keeper Sinclair Astridge came up with a big save on AUS first-team all-star Jamie Nicholson of the CAPERS in the 21st minute, knocking away a high shot with one hand.

The CAPERS' possession game continued to generate scoring chances, and an Evan Cunningham cross to the front of the Dalhousie net resulted in an own goal and a 2–0 lead for CBU in the 30th minute.

AUS MVP and first-team all-star midfielder Max Piepgrass unleashed a strong free kick from the top of the box early in the second half, but another diving save from Astridge kept the ball out.

The Tigers cut the lead in half in the 60th minute when Wahdan got a foot on a loose ball in front of the CAPERS' net after a corner kick from Woody Bain, making it 2–1.

Dalhousie's intensity picked up from there, and Wahdan knotted things up in the 71st minute, drilling home a penalty kick after a hard tackle in the box. The referee flashed a pair of yellow cards after the goal, and the remainder of regulation stayed scoreless.

Late in the first overtime, a long throw from Tigers defender Joseph Odume found the foot of Wahdan in front of the CAPERS' net, and he tapped in his third of the match to complete the hat trick.

Jack Harrington faced late pressure in the CAPERS' net as the Tigers pulled ahead in shots on goal before the final whistle.

Dalhousie captain Jack Ellis accepted the championship banner alongside Astridge. It is the first AUS title for head coach Alan Jazic, the 2025 AUS Coach of the Year. The victory also means Dalhousie has earned the right to host the 2026 AUS men's soccer championship.

Recap courtesy Matt Draper / STFX Athletics