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CBU men defeat UNB for second straight AUS title
Members of the Cape Breton University Capers men’s soccer team celebrate with their fans after defeating the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds 1-0 to claim their second consecutive Atlantic University Sport championship. And while the men were rolling to victoryat home before about 300 fans at the CBU pitch, the women were also busy winning their own AUS honours as they edged Acadia 2-1 in Antigonish. The only other time the two Capers soccer teams won the Atlantic conference in the same year was 2007, when the women went on to win the national championship at home in Cape Breton.
A towering header at the end of a magical cross led to the only goal Cape Breton needed to cop their second consecutive AUS men’s soccer championship.
Just 15 minutes into Sunday’s title game at the CBU pitch, where about 300 vocal fans took in the contest, two of the Capers top offensive talents combined for a technically perfect goal.
Running through the centre of the pitch, fourth-year midfielder Stuart Heath volleyed a pass to the right flank, where AUS rookie-of-the-year Charlie Waters took the ball on the run. The speedy forward from Lancashire, England then outran a defender before launching a right-footed cross that made perfect contact with the head of a leaping Heath before it rocketed into the top corner past the outstretched arms of UNB goalie Evan Barker.
“I don’t really remember getting the ball over to Charlie – I just knew that I better get to the goal and his delivery was perfect,” said Heath, who like his teammates couldn’t keep the grin of victory off his face.
“The team has gelled really well and we’re coming together at the right time.”
Coming together may be a bit of an understatement given that the Capers, who trounced Acadia 5-0 in Friday’s semifinal, remain undefeated after a regular season in which they went 11-01. The Cape Breton offense is the best in the conference and has been led by the dynamic quartet of Waters, Heath, Cory Bent and Marcus Campanile. Waters, named the tournament’s most valuable player, finished third in AUS regular season scoring with eight goals, while Heath, Bent (named CBU player of the game on Sunday) and Campanile also placed in the conference’s top ten.
“The boys are playing well, everybody’s playing hard and we’re getting the results we want,” said Waters, who was in on every Caper goal in the semifinal with two goals and three assists.
Despite the dominant season the Capers have enjoyed, head coach Deano Morley said he wasn’t surprised by the close score line.
“UNB has a very good team and a very good coach and I said before that we would see them in the final and I knew it was going to be a tough game and it was – we have a lot of respect for them,” said Morley, who with an orange Capers scarf wrapped around his neck above an allblack attire looked all the part of the successful football manager he has become during his time at the helm in Cape Breton.
“This is the first time we’ve won back-to-back championships and to do it at home is great – the fans are fantastic and there is lots to be proud of here.”
The CBU men now carry their AUS championship banner to Kamloops, B.C., where Thompson Rivers University plays host to the national championships, Nov. 9-12.
The top-ranked Capers play Université Québec at Montreal (UQAM) in one of eight quarter-final matches on Thursday. Kick-off is at 11:30 p.m. AST.