CAPERS WIN SOCCER SILVER AND BRONZE

Beat McMaster Marauders 1-0 at U Sports national championship

The Cape Breton Capers women’s soccer team clipped the McMaster Marauders 1-0 in the bronze medal match at the U Sports national championship on Sunday.

For Cape Breton University head coach Ness Timmons, it was as proud as he’s ever been of a team in the 22 seasons he’s been on the sidelines.

“Our expectations and our goals at the start of the year were to do the best we could, battle all year and see where it would bring us,” said the New Waterford native. “It is quite an accomplishment for what we did this year, how we pulled together, how we bonded and played as a team. I think that’s what the girls will remember most of all.

“They’re a pretty proud bunch today taking home that bronze medal.”

Second-year forward Rachel Leck of Pickering, Ont., scored the lone goal of the game in the 48th minute, redirecting a corner kick from Madison Goodliffe with a header to the far post. From there, fourthyear keeper Rachel Yerxa of Mississauga, Ont., and CBU’s backline stood tall to preserve the clean sheet in goal.

Third-year defender Kennedy Currie of Coldbrook, N.S., was named CBU’s player of the match.

The medal is the second in as many seasons at the U Sports championship for the Capers women. They claimed a silver at last year’s tournament in Winnipeg.

The Capers suffered a 2-1 loss to the Trinity Western Spartans of Langley, B.C., in the semifinal round on Saturday. Leck scored to put CBU ahead at halftime, but the Spartans replied with two late goals to earn a berth in the final.

“At these tournaments, it’s one play here (or there) and it’s a game of inches,” said Timmons. “We had 80 minutes we were up 1-0, feeling good but were very cautious, so we allow one goal. With the wind in our faces, we were trying to get to extra time and try to refocus. Then they scored at 92 minutes to put us into (the consolation).

“The girls were very disappointed (Saturday) then we sat down and realized that we’re playing on the last day of the year for anybody in the country. There are 47 other teams that would like to be

here on the last day so let’s go out there with a medal still at stake — we have something to play for here. It really didn’t take us long to refocus after we chatted and try to get our best

effort forward and we got it.”

Fifth-year defender Becky Hanna of Howie Centre and fourth-year midfielder/forward Chantal Caron of Ottawa played in their final matches

as a Caper on Sunday. Both will be graduating from the program.

“They’re a pretty proud bunch today taking home that bronze medal.”

Ness Timmons,

Cape Breton University head coach

SUBMITTED PHOTO/U SPORTS Rachel Leck of the Cape Breton Capers women, right, scored the game’s lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the McMaster Marauders in the U Sports bronze medal match on Sunday in Ottawa. Leck is shown battling with Claudia Continenza of the Marauders.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/U SPORTS The Cape Breton Capers are shown after winning the bronze medal at the U Sports women’s national soccer championship on Sunday in Ottawa.

SUBMITTED PHOTO/U SPORTS Defender Becky Hanna of Howie Centre, centre, is shown with her U Sports bronze medal after the Cape Breton Capers women defeated the McMaster Marauders 1-0 on Sunday in Ottawa.