SEASON PREVIEW: Parity reigns in AUS women’s soccer

Teams primed to challenge defending champion Capers

By Corey LeBlanc

The race for supremacy in 2023 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's soccer – one expected to have several contenders jockeying for top spot – will kick off this weekend.

"It is never easy – you are going to have to earn it," Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers' head coach Stephen 'Ness' Timmons said, when asked about the projected parity in the conference.

In a highly-competitive 2022 campaign, the Capers captured their 12^th conference banner in program history with a razor-thin 1-0 victory over the Dalhousie Tigers in the championship match.

"We are feeling good," he noted during a recent training camp conversation.

The Capers – who finished first in the 2022 regular season, with a 10-2 record – have 10 new student-athletes on the roster.

"They should be on top of their game," Timmons said of his recruiting class, considering six members played high-calibre soccer this summer in either League1 Ontario or the NSSL Premier League.

Because the defending champs have so many new faces, he offered, "There is a bit of an unknown," when it comes to expectations for the 2023 campaign.

Those newcomers will be taking the pitch with several familiar players to CBU faithful, including first-team All-Canadian forward Ally Rowe (Kitchener, ON) – last's season conference MVP and leading scorer (12 goals) – and midfielder Grace Hannaford (Enfield, NS), the 2022 AUS top rookie, along with midfielder Ally Wilton (Bedford, NS) and winger Paige Allaby (Rothesay, NB).

Timmons expects to field a solid starting 11 and strong bench.

"We are going to play with a lot of energy and pressure people," he said, while remembering their defensive responsibilities.

Tiger time

When it comes to last season's runners-up, head coach Cindy Tye said, "Everyone is excited to get going."

The 2022 AUS coach of the year added, "We will definitely be prepared."

The Tigers, who finished second in the regular season – with an 8-0-4 mark, boasted the stingiest defense in the conference. As for keys to being successful on that end of the pitch, she noted the importance of being "as organized as possible."

"Move forward and then build from there," Tye added of creating offense from their strong defense.

When it comes to key contributors to success this season, Tye pointed to the trio of junior center back Hannah Firstbrook (Nepean, ON) and junior midfielder Megan Chiasson (Lower Sackville, NS) – both 2022 conference first-team all-stars – along with senior midfielder Morgan Leon (Toronto, ON), the team captain who missed most of last season with an injury.

"They are going to be difference makers for us," she said.

Tye added, "We also have some exciting new players."

Topping the recruiting class are midfielders Maeve McCloskey (Georgetown, ON) and Arianna Rushenas (Toronto, ON), whose older brother, Aiden, is a star goalkeeper with the Dalhousie men's program.

"We expect them to contribute [this season]," she noted.

Although it is a "new team and new season," Tye explained that the Tigers will work to take advantage of last season's experiences.

"We will be taking things one day, one game at a time," she said.

Tye expects the conference campaign, once again, to be "highly competitive."

Sharpening the ax

Her AUS counterpart – Amit Batra of the Acadia Axewomen – agreed.

"There are plenty of strong teams," he said.

The 2021 league champions, who finished third last season at 9-2-1, were upended on home turf in quarter-final action by the Memorial SeaHawks.

"Over the past few years, we have been consistent – and really competitive - and we expect the same this season," Batra said.

One of keys to success for the squad, he noted, is "to always be defensively responsible."

"And, how well we connect with each other," Batra explained of when they have ball possession.

He also pointed to the importance of striking the balance between being too aggressive and too conservative.

"We are bringing back a lot of experience," Batra said of the Axewomen line-up.

That list includes 2022 first-team all-star midfielder Grace Longley (Bedford, NS) and second-team all-star midfielder Madyson Harris (Wolfville, NS), along with defenders Mya Harnish (Lower Sackville, NS) and Leah Adams (Truro, NS). Playoff-tested goalkeeper Milena Ramirez (New Minas, NS) is also back in the fold.

Striker Abbey Aucoin (Dartmouth, NS) tallied six goals as a freshman to earn a spot on the USPORTS all-rookie team.

"They will be a big part of our success," he added of those returnees.

Acadia also added transfer Sydney Kennedy (Fall River, NS), a high-end winger who started her collegiate career with the NCAA's Florida Gators. 

"We expect her to be a contributor," Batra said.

X-pecting to contend

With a "pretty solid" starting 11, along with a "reasonable amount of depth," veteran head coach Graham Kennedy expects his STFX X-Women to contend for the playoffs.

"In an ideal world, we will finish with a bye. That's what we are going to work for, but it is not going to be easy," he said, noting the depth of quality programs in the conference.

The X-Women finished fourth in the 2022 regular season, with an 8-3-1 record, before dropping a hard-fought 1-0 decision to the rival Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers in the conference semi-finals.

"We are starting to come together," Kennedy said.

Fifth-year striker Amanda Smith (Ottawa, ON), who garnered an AUS second-team all-star spot and All-Canadian status last season – and scored a conference second-best nine goals, will help lead the way for the White and Blue.

"Amanda is hungry – she wants to go out in a big way," Kennedy said.

First-team AUS all-star and second-team All-Canadian from 2022 – defender Abby Steen (Stittsville, ON) – has returned for her junior campaign.

"Abby is in top form, and we are expecting a lot from her," Kennedy added.

Midfielder Caitlin Crichton (Ottawa, ON) – the X-Women's other first-team conference all-star in 2022 – is coming off a "stellar summer season" playing in League1 Ontario.

Sophomore Aidan Miller (Chilliwack, BC) is looking to build on a freshman season where she made an immediate impact in the conference as a goal-scoring forward.

When it comes to newcomers, midfielder Cheyenne Bower (London, ON) and forward Ava Elgood (Almonte, ON), have started well, according to Kennedy – fashioning strong training camp and pre-season performances, while keeper Hailey Jones (Ottawa, ON) is expected to comprise a formidable one-two punch with fourth-year senior – and playoff tested – Christina Gentile (Laval, QC).

Bite of the Huskies

In many ways, the 2023 AUS regular season began shortly after the final whistle in the 2022 playoffs for the Saint Mary's Huskies.

Amidst disappointment with the "heartbreaking loss" to the X-Women in the quarter-finals – a 6-4 setback in overtime, one in which they rallied to tie the match after trailing 4-1 – head coach Marisa Colzie saw something else.

Noting that "everyone counted us out" in the playoff thriller, she suggested the experience "planted the seed" for this season.

"It was a motivated group," Colzie remembered of those Huskies, even on the heels of the loss.

She offered coupling that motivation to get back on the pitch with "belief" in themselves creates a "great combination."

"We are really excited about this season," Colzie said.

The Huskies, who finished fifth in 2022 – with a 5-4-3 mark – return the bulk of their roster, including fifth-year midfielder Anelise Karakostas (Victoria, B.C.), a 2022 AUS first-team all-star.

"She is an offensive threat who really helps us in our attack," Colzie noted.

She also expects second-team all-star junior center back Madlyn Blinn (Lower Sackville, NS) to be a "huge part" of any Saint Mary's success this season.

"Maddy makes a tremendous impact – she really motivates our team," Colzie said.

Describing her as the "general," the Huskies' mentor offered that senior keeper Grace Morrison (Halifax, NS) "gets the team going and keeps us accountable defensively."

"They are going to have to be big pieces for us," Colzie said of the veteran trio.

When it comes to newcomers, she anticipates that a pair of freshman midfielders – Cara Freeman (Halifax, NS) and Cassidy Wells (Ottawa, ON) – will make a big impression in their debut AUS campaigns.

The Huskies have also added first-year experience in Erin Freeman (Halifax, NS) – Cara's older sister – who won the AUS and USPORTS top rookie awards, along with AUS first-team all-star and second-team All-Canadian status, with the CBU Capers in 2018. Top-end defender Neila MacDonald (Port Williams, NS) started her varsity career with the Bishop's Gaiters.

"Anyone can beat anyone on any given day," Colzie offered, when asked if she expects a competitive AUS regular season in 2023.

She added, "You have to be ready to play every time you step on that pitch."

Sea-Hawks ready to soar

Describing the roster as "hard-working and talented," Memorial Sea-Hawks' head coach Mike Power expects his team "to be competitive."

As for who should be key contributors, if Memorial is to challenge for conference supremacy, he started with winger Claire Langille (Fall River, NS), who he called a "premier performer."

Midfielder Bethany Hynes (Paradise, NL) returns after missing last season with a torn ACL.

"She is going to give us a great boost," Power said.

The Sea-Hawks also return the 1-2 scoring punch of forward Zoe Rowe (CBS, NL) and winger Kate Hickey (Outer Cove, NL).

When it comes to newcomers, there is Grace Nolan (CBS, NL), who Power predicted will "turn some heads."

"She is an exciting young talent," he added.

Twins Kendra and Sydney Schram (Brandon, MB) are also first-year student-athletes expected to make an immediate impact.

"We are going to have a lot more options," Power offered of the anticipated increased depth.

As for team goals, he said, "Make the playoffs. If you do that, then you have got a chance."

Power, noting that Memorial has made the AUS semi-finals every season since 2015, said, "We are going to try to push beyond that [level]."

After securing the final playoff position last season, with a 4-5-3 record, the SeaHawks scored the aforementioned quarter-final upset of Acadia before bowing out to the Tigers.

Noting the "parity" in the conference, Power expects another competitive campaign.

"It is going to be so tight," he said.

Season openers

Along with the six playoff teams from last season, the UNB Reds, Mount Allison Mounties, UPEI Panthers and Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues will be vying for a return to the year-end post-season tournament after missing out in 2022.

The opening matches of the regular season are set for Friday, Sept. 1, when the Dalhousie Tigers face the Memorial SeaHawks in St. John's (5 p.m. NDT), and the Saint Mary's Huskies challenge the Acadia Axewomen in Wolfville (5 p.m. ADT).

The 2023 Subway AUS Women's Soccer Championships – hosted by the Capers at Ness Timmons Soccer Field on the Sydney campus – are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26 to Sunday, Oct. 29.