Preview: 2021 Subway AUS Women's Soccer Championship
(SYDNEY, N.S) This weekend, Cape Breton University once again plays host to the 2021 Subway AUS Soccer Championships, with both men’s and women’s teams competing for AUS titles from November 4 to November 7.
(SYDNEY, N.S) This weekend, Cape Breton University once again plays host to the 2021 Subway AUS Soccer Championships, with both men’s and women’s teams competing for AUS titles from November 4 to November 7.
The championship schedule kicks off on Thursday morning with the quarterfinals, but here’s what you can expect from all the playoff matchups on the women’s side.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
QF#1: Mount Allison Mounties (5th) vs. StFX X-Women (4th)
The fifth-seeded Mount Allison Mounties (5-5-2) will face off against the number four seed StFX X-Women (7-4-1) at 11:30 a.m.
In their first playoff appearance since 2013, the Mounties will look to first team AUS all-star Amanda Piltzmaker (Ottawa, ON) to lead the way on their championship run. The fourth-year striker finished the regular season with five goals and one assist, which tied her for fourth in the AUS for scoring.
The X-Women will be anchored by fourth-year striker and first team all-star Amanda Smith (Ottawa, Ontario) who finished third in AUS scoring with six goals and three assists. Fellow StFX standout and second team all-star Abby Steen (Stittsville, ON) will lead the X-Women’s defense.
StFX and Mount Allison met once in the regular season with the home-team StFX coming out on top, with a 4-1 victory.
QF#2: Dalhousie Tigers (6th) vs. Acadia Axewomen (3rd)
The number six seed Dalhousie Tigers (4-3-5) will face the third-place Acadia Axewomen (7-3-2) in the second quarterfinal match-up of the women’s championship, set to get underway at 4:30 p.m.
First team all-star Riley Donovan (Toronto, ON) will play a key role in the Tigers’ offense. Donovan, who had eight goals and one assist, finished the season sitting second overall in AUS scoring. Other Tigers leading the charge will be fifth-year defender and first team all-star Holly Buckler (Halifax, N.S.) and AUS rookie of the year and second team all-star Megan Chiasson (Lower Sackville, N.S.).
Dalhousie led the AUS in shutouts in 2021, with seven.
The Acadia defense will be led by third-year player and first team all-star Lauren Jodrey (Bedford, N.S.) and second team all-star Mya Harnish (Halifax, N.S.). The Axewomen finished the 2021 season with just nine goals scored against them, recording five shutouts and a goals-against average of .75/game. All-star midfielders Madicynn Harnish (Lower Sackville, N.S.) and Grace Longley (Bedford, N.S.) will also be players to watch.
In the lone meeting between these two teams this season at Acadia, the Axewomen defeated the Tigers with a score of 1-0.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5
SF#1: Memorial Sea-Hawks (1st) vs. winner of QF #1
The U SPORTS no. 10-ranked Memorial Sea-Hawks posted a 10-2-0 regular-season record and come into the championship as the top seed. They will face the winner of Thursday’s Mount Allison and StFX quarterfinal at 11:30 a.m.
The Sea-Hawks difference-maker could be senior striker and AUS MVP Holly O’Neill (St. John's, NL), who finished the regular season leading the conference in goals (12) and points (13) in the regular season. Second team all-star Claire Langille (Windsor Junction, N.S.), who had four goals this season, finished seventh in AUS scoring.
Senior defender and AUS first team all-star Briana Pender (St. John’s, NL) will also play a key role in this match, as will second team all-star and goalkeeper, Sydney Walsh (St. John’s, NL). Memorial recorded six shutouts in the 2021 season, boasting a .59 goals-against average.
AUS coach of the year Mike Power is at the helm of this Sea-Hawks team, which led the AUS in scoring with 29 goals. In regular season play, Memorial celebrated two wins against the Mounties (2-1 and 2-0) and one against the X-Women (2-0).
SF#2: Cape Breton Capers (2nd ) vs. winner of QF #2
The U SPORTS no. 6-ranked Cape Breton Capers will face off against winner of Thursday’s second quarterfinal, between Dalhousie and Acadia, at 4:30 p.m. The host Capers finished second in the AUS conference standings and are the three-time AUS defending champions and 2017 U SPORTS silver medalists.
Led by AUS first team all-stars Fatou Ndiaye (Pierrfonds, QC) and Alliyah Rowe (Kitchener, ON), the Cape Breton squad secured second place with an 8-0-4 regular-season record. They were also second in the AUS in scoring, with 28 goals this season.
Goalkeeper and first team all-star Haley Kardas (Halifax, N.S.) and second-team all-star Madison Lavers (Halifax, N.S.) will anchor the Capers’ defense. Cape Breton recorded seven shutouts during the 2021 regular season, allowing just six goals against them and boasting a conference-topping goals-against average of .50.
In past head-to-heads, the Capers tied against Dalhousie (1-1) and recorded one win and one draw against Acadia (2-1, 1-1).
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Championship Final: SF#1 Winner vs. SF#2 winner
On Sunday at 1 p.m., the winners of Friday’s two semifinal matchups will battle for the 2021 AUS conference title.
Cape Breton’s Capers have won four of the last five AUS championships, with StFX taking the 2016 banner. The top-ranked Memorial Sea-Hawks will be hunting for their first conference title since 2014.
Acadia’s Axewomen were last champs in 1996 while the Dalhousie Tigers were back-to-back winners in 2011-2012. The Mount Allison Mounties are still seeking their first AUS title.
All games of the championship will be available via webcast, live at www.AUStv.ca.