It shouldn’t happen again

Dylan Matthias, Sports Editor

The Dalhousie Tigers soccer teams should collectively promise their fans that it won’t happen again. They have probably already promised themselves that.

On a freezing cold November weekend in 2009, both the women’s and men’s Dalhousie soccer teams –  dominant forces in AUS – fell at the first playoff hurdle to vastly weaker teams. A year that could have seen Dalhousie compete properly at nationals ended early, and AUS soccer fans got to watch UPEI and St. FX get bounced quickly at Nationals in Toronto and Burnley.

The men will be strong, and would have been even if head coach Pat Nearing had not addressed the weakness in full back by adding numerous multi-role defenders, including Zach Bauld and Kieran Hooey. Nearing has also recruited a new striker in Tyler Lewars to replace the departed Michel Daoust who lead the Tigers last season with six goals. Ben Ur is one of the best university goalkeepers in the country, and Dal have box-to-box man Ross Hagen in the midfield. Adding Lewars and some wide defense should make the team very hard to beat.

The women were defensive specialists last year, a fact emphasized by a roster that included four goalkeepers. This is the last year for the Tigers’ core, which includes Jeanette Huck, Katie Richard, and Kate MacDonald, so the team shouldn’t lack motivation.

The Tigers did lose midfielders Teresa Morrison, Laura Johnstone, and Ashley Donald, but they still possess a deep midfield, including Reika Santilli, Anna McKilligan, and Beth O’Reilly.

The rookie trio of Emma Landry, Joanna Blodgett, and O’Reilly managed one competitive goal between them in 2009. They need to score more or risk losing playing time to new recruits Bianca Jakisa and Daphne Wallace up front.

The Tigers best area is their defense, which is loaded with talent. Their starting back four would usually be Huck, Amanda Henry, Colleen MacDonald, and Alannah McLean, a group that could take on any AUS attack. Head coach Jack Hutchison has also added Andie Vanderlaan, a potentially stand-out rookie to the group. Stephanie Crewe should also help cover for the oft-injured McLean, as well.

The Tigers are a balanced group and, barring another playoff defeat in a Newfoundland snowstorm, should challenge at CIS nationals.

But we said that last year, too.

The Dalhousie Tigers women’s team opens the 2010 season ranked 5^th nationally and 1^st in the AUS, the men’s team opens at 8^th in Canada and 2^nd in the AUS behind Cape Breton University.