Time to defend the crown
Cape Breton Capers aiming to repeat at U Sports Men’s National Soccer Championship in Vancouver
The Cape Breton Capers men’s soccer team will have a target on its back when the U Sports Men’s National Championship begins in Vancouver, B.C., today.
The Capers enter the national tournament as the No. 2-ranked team in the country as well as the defending champion, capturing the gold medal at nationals in Kamloops, B.C., last November.
Cape Breton advanced to its third straight national tournament and seventh appearance in 12 years, with a 2-0 win on Sunday over the New Brunswick Reds in the Atlantic University Sport championship game at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex in Sydney.
“We feel like we belong at nationals and we’re coming here with good expectations and a great level of preparation,” said Capers head coach Deano Morley, who captured his second consecutive AUS coach of the year award last week.
“We feel that we can apply ourselves here and if we can win that first game, you never know
what can happen.”
Joining the Capers (10-0-2) in the national tournament are the host UBC Thunderbirds (13-1-2), York Lions (13-0-3), Montreal Carabins (9-2-1), New Brunswick Reds (7-2-3), Carleton
Ravens (14-1-1), Université du Québec à Montreal (UQAM) Citadins (5-2-5), and Trinity Western Spartans (8-3-4).
Cape Breton will open the tournament tonight at 8 p.m. Atlantic time against UQAM, a
club the Capers defeated 3-0 in the quarter-finals last season.
Morley, who’s in his fifth year as the program’s head coach, said the Capers are not looking too far ahead in the tournament.
“We only ever focus on one game at a time,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you who else is in the tournament, we’re playing one team and our plan is to beat them and see what else unfolds.”
The Capers are led offensively by second-year forward Cory Bent, who was named the AUS playoff most valuable player, with seven goals and 10 points in 12 regular season games, followed closely by teammate Marcus Campanile with six goals and eight points.
André Bona leads the Citadins offense with five points and shares the team lead in goals (4)
with Mitchell Sylla.
“Our coaching staff has been watching them (UQAM) and studying them for the past two days, so we’re prepared, as always,” said Morley. “We’ll have some video sessions and we will go out and execute.
“I believe if we play our football at our level, we’re as good as anyone in the country or North America — my focus is my team.”
In other quarter-final action today, York will play Trinity Western, while Montreal faces New Brunswick, and UBC battles Carleton.
The national semifinal games are scheduled for Friday, while the championship match is set for 6 p.m. Atlantic time on Sunday.