NEW SOCCER SEASON
Capers open at home on Saturday.
It’s safe to say Joel Eckert-Ayensa is more than ready to get back on the field.
“I was hoping the game was today, but unfortunately, we have to wait a couple of more days,” the third-year Cape Breton Capers men’s soccer player said at team practice, Thursday. The enthusiasm is understandable. The Capers men surprised many in 2016 as their rookieladen roster finished with a 9-2-1 record and went on to claim the Atlantic University Sport championship.
CBU begins its title defence at home on Saturday when they host the Saint Mary’s Huskies at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex turf field. The men play 3:15 p.m. following the women’s match at 1 p.m.
“I think after last year, we as a team can be pretty confident,” said Eckert-Ayensa, 22, from Cologne, Germany. “We’re favourites for the AUS this year, but I think that will just make it harder for us. We’ll just have to focus more and more every game and not take anything for granted.”
The Capers men also have some added motivation. They’ll play host to the AUS championship, Nov. 2-5.
“This year, we’re trying to manage those expectations and pressure,” said Capers head coach Deano Morley. “As a coaching staff, we’ve put great emphasis on the player’s mental side, not coming into this with any entitlement and not coming into this in any sort of casual manner because every game is tough.”
For the Capers women, they’re using their defeat at last year’s AUS championship on their home field as motivation heading into 2017.
CBU finished atop the standings at 11-1-0, but were clipped in the semifinal 1-0 in penalty kicks to the eventual champion St. Francis Xavier X-Women.
“That drives us and that pushes us to want to get that AUS championship this year,” said fifth-year defender/midfielder Tamara Brown. “We were a very strong team last year and we’re still a very strong team this year. We have four returning fifth-year players, which adds a bit of experience, but the girls are all technically very good. Even the rookies coming in, they’re fantastic.”
Saturday will be the final home opener for Brown who’s won AUS banners in 2013 and 2015. She feels this year’s squad has what it takes to get back on top.
“We have the power, the strength, the skills, the endurance and the fitness,” said the 22-year-old from Whitby, Ont. “We do have what it takes and we do have the heart for it. I feel like our team is very passionate, especially about the sport.”
Some special guests will be on hand as the Capers women open their season. A reunion for women’s soccer alumni will be held, and the weekend will include alumni games, a pep rally, socials and other events. That includes a number of players who played for the Capers when they won a national championship in 2007.
“We’ve always stressed here that it’s not just a soccer team, that it’s a program,” said Capers women’s head coach Ness Timmons. “That means we’re always building on tradition. Although we haven’t been around as many years as the other teams, we have a great tradition going here with CBU women’s soccer. The new players have just been hearing about these girls, so they’re excited to meet some of the legends, as we call them.”