CBU defeats UNB in semifinal action

By Corey LeBlanc

(SYDNEY, N.S.) The third-seeded Cape Breton CAPERS will have an opportunity to repeat as conference champions when they face the fourth-seeded Memorial Sea-Hawks on Sunday afternoon in the battle for the banner at the 2025 Bell AUS Women's Soccer Championship, presented by Protocase, at Ness Timmons Field on the CBU campus.

The CAPERS punched their ticket to the title match with a 2–0 win over the second-seeded UNB REDS on Friday evening.

The REDS generated the first quality scoring opportunity of the opening half, but first-team AUS all-star keeper Ellie Lancaster of Fall River, N.S., made a sensational sliding save on second-team all-star Heidi Lauwerijssen of Irishtown, P.E.I.

A short time later, Mia Hamilton of Aldershot, England, headed home the opening goal off the flick of a midfield free kick from Sarah Baker of St. John's, N.L., via Audrey Roy of Petit Rocher, N.B.

On the tail end of a tic-tac-toe passing play, Lauwerijssen ripped a strike, but Lancaster dove to her right to make the stop.

The CAPERS led 1–0 at halftime.

In the second half, the REDS came out looking for the equalizer, but a stingy CBU defence and the stellar goalkeeping of Lancaster maintained the one-goal edge.

In the 62nd minute, on another assist from Roy, Hamilton—the Boston Pizza Player of the Match—collected an insurance marker. She showed a deft first touch, shifting the pass from her left to right foot before tucking it into the bottom corner behind second-team AUS all-star keeper Breanna Habinski of Fort Erie, Ont.

UNB had opportunities to cut into the CBU two-goal lead, but they couldn't solve the CAPERS defence or Lancaster—their last line of defence—who finished with six saves.