Moving on
Waters’ five-point performance leads host Capers to AUS final
Charlie Waters has had a successful first season with the Cape Breton University Capers, but he believes he may have played his best game to date on Friday.
The Lancashire, England, native led the offense for the Capers, posting two goals and three assists, to help Cape Breton defeat the Acadia University Axemen 5-0 a semifinal of the Subway AUS Men’s Soccer Championship at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex in Sydney.
With the win, the Capers advance to the tournament championship game on Sunday at 2 p.m. against the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds.
“The main thing for me is that we got the win,” said Waters, the AUS rookie of the year. “It was a hectic start to the game — I think the rainy weather was a factor — both teams were going at it the first 10 minutes, but we settled down and got the goals really quickly.”
The Capers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead at the 10:31 mark of the game with a Cory Bent header beating Acadia University keeper Pietro Nottegar.
Cape Breton continued the offense in the first half with Waters scoring his first of two goals in the half at 22:28, which was followed by Stuart Heath’s marker less than two minutes later.
Despite taking a 4-0 lead into halftime, the Capers didn’t escape the half without some bad news.
Middle fielder Jack Simpson suffered an injury and was required to leave the game and did not return. Simpson was later seen on crutches.
The Capers added an insurance marker with Heath’s second goal of the game at 56:25 of the second half, making the
score 5-0.
“Acadia came out aggressively… I think the boys were very composed, we were wellorganized, well-prepared and I think we have been all season,” said Capers coach Deano Morley.
Morley said having a big lead at half-time helped ease the tension of his players.
“We wanted to manage the game at that point,” he said. “We got the goals, we were very clinical and then it’s about game management, just making sure we’re as healthy as possible for the final.”
Aside from advancing to the AUS final on Sunday, the win also secured the Capers a spot in the 2017 U Sports Men’s Soccer Championship, Nov. 9-12, in Kamloops, B.C.
“I don’t want to get on the plane without the (AUS) banner,” said Morley. “There is nothing more important to play for in this country then this AUS banner and I’ve been through seasons when you walk away with nothing in the end.
“These boys deserve to be champions and we will take care of that and then we will worry about nationals.”
As for Waters, he said the game plan doesn’t change for the final.
“We’re going to focus on our game,” said the striker. “We really enjoy having people cheering us on, and we would appreciate all the support we can get on Sunday.”
When asked for an update on Simpson’s status for Sunday’s game, Morley said the Redding, U.K., native was going to the hospital Friday night, noting “it’s not looking good.”
In the other men’s semifinal on Friday, the No. 3 seed University of New Brunswick upset No. 2 seed St. Francis Xavier University 1-0.