TOPS IN CANADA
Five Capers soccer players named all-Canadians
CBU Capers soccer players, coaches get national recognition.
Cape Breton University’s soccer coaches have earned national accolades.
Capers women’s head coach Ness Timmons and men’s bench boss Deano Morley were both named the U Sports coaches of the year, late Wednesday.
For Timmons, of New Waterford, it’s the third time he’s earned the honour. He also won the national award in 2000 and 2012.
Timmons, in his 22nd season coaching at CBU, guided the Capers women to an unbeaten 11-0-1 record, and a No. 5 national ranking. On Sunday in Antigonish, the Capers won their ninth AUS champion- ship with a 2-1 victory over the Acadia Axewomen.
He’s been named AUS coach of the year seven times.
“I’ve had great help with my two assistants, it’s 11 years with Chad (Power) and 15 years for Robert (White). They’ve been with me that long, so they’re a great help,” said Timmons. “The coaching award is the ultimate team award, really. It’s an individual
award that expresses what the team really has done.”
For Morley, it’s the first time he’s received the national award and the first time for the men’s soccer program at CBU.
The native of Nottingham, England, guided the Capers to an 11-0-1 record and a No. 1 national ranking. On home soil on Sunday, the Capers repeated as AUS champions with a 1-0 win over the New Brunswick Varsity Reds.
Morley, who’s served as the team’s head coach since 2014 after joining the club as an assistant in 2007, was twice named AUS coach of the year (2014 and 2017). The former Capers player suited up for the
club from 2004-06.
Capers players also earned all-Canadian honours on Wednesday.
On the women’s side, Tamara Brown and Ciera Disipio earned a spot on the first team, while Keona Simmonds earned a spot on the second team. All three players were named AUS first team all-stars. Disipio was named conference MVP, while Brown was named AUS tournament MVP. Simmonds led the league with 12 goals this season, followed by Disipio with 11. Brown was tied for fourth in the AUS with eight tallies.
“They had amazing seasons, but for a small school like us to have three kids in the top
22 players, I don’t know of any other school that has that, but that’s certainly a credit to the hard work they put in this year,” said Timmons.
For the men, Charlie Waters and Cory Bent were named to the second team. Waters also earned another nod on the U Sports all-rookie team as well. Both players were AUS first team all-stars. Waters, who finished tied for third in the conference in goals this season with eight, won rookie of the year and AUS tournament MVP.
Both Capers teams open play at nationals today. The Capers women are in Winnipeg and will face Victoria at 2:30 p.m. Atlantic time in the quarter-final round. The Capers men challenge UQAM at 11:30 p.m. Atlantic in Kamloops, B.C.
Games will be broadcast online at http://sportscanada.tv/usports/2017-msc.