One player to look out for on every Dalhousie Tigers fall sports team

Lost in the hustle and bustle of early first semester, Dalhousie University fall sports are well underway, with student athletes looking to make a difference for their teams.

However, some athletes shine above the rest. These are the Dalhousie Tigers to watch as leaves start to fall across campus. 

Men’s soccer: Ben Hashimoto

With five goals in the first five games of the season, including two in the Tigers’ 5-1 win over

Mount Allison University on Sep. 27, Ben Hashimoto is dominating the pitch for the Dalhousie men’s soccer team. The third-year striker from Charlottetown, P.E.I. spent his summer participating in the Halifax Wanderers Development Program and has already surpassed the points he recorded in his first two seasons as a Tiger. 

Head coach Alan Jazic credits Hashimoto’s success to his ability to identify and play to his strengths. 

“This season, instead of focusing on ‘just scoring,’ he’s figured out to do all the little things right, and when he does that, the goals come.”

Hashimoto has been named the PepsiCo Male Athlete of the Week twice, and Tigers fans should definitely remember the name as he looks to lead the men’s soccer team to success. The Tigers are hitting the road for their next match against Cape Breton University on Oct. 5, before returning to Wickwire Field on Oct. 17 to face the University of Prince Edward Island.

Women’s soccer: Elise Evans

The Dalhousie women’s soccer team is a force to be reckoned with this season, going undefeated through their first seven games, and Elise Evans is helping lead the way. 

With six goals and one assist, Evans is currently the team’s leading scorer. The fourth-year striker finished the 2024 season tied for fifth in scoring in the Atlantic University Sport league and was named Dal’s women’s soccer MVP. Evans was also named to the AUS first all-star team. Evans’ consistency and leadership on the pitch makes her a player to watch this fall, as the team continues their dominant march towards the AUS Championships. The Tigers’ next game is on Oct. 5 against Cape Breton University. They will return to Wickwire on Oct. 17 to face the UPEI. 

Men’s cross country: Grayson Butler

On Sept. 20, at the Dalhousie Invitational, Grayson Butler led the Tigers’ men’s cross country team to their first win of the season, defeating St. Francis Xavier University and UPEI, with a fourth-place finish and a time of 26:37. This is the second consecutive race that Butler has finished as the top Tiger. He finished the opening race of the season, hosted by the University of New Brunswick, in fifth place, with a time of 26:55. 

It’s a strong performance for Butler’s second year as a Tiger and shows promise for a successful cross-country career at Dal. He is definitely an athlete to look out for this fall, as he looks to continue improving his times and bring home some hardware for the Tigers. The team’s next event, the third AUS cross country invitational, will take place on Oct. 4 in Moncton.

Women’s cross country: Mila Souilliere

In her fourth year as a Tiger, Mila Souiliere is setting an example, finishing both the opening

AUS cross country invitational and the Dalhousie Invitational as the top female Tiger, with fifth and fourth place finishes, respectively. She also played a crucial role in the team’s second-place finishes at both invitationals. As the women’s cross-country team looks ahead to the AUS Championships, Tigers fans should watch for Souiliere to lead the way.

The team’s final race before the AUS Championships will take place on Oct. 4 in Moncton.

Men’s rugby: Harrison Stewart

The Dalhousie Tigers men’s rugby club is off to a strong start this season, going undefeated through their first three games, and Harrison Stewart is at the heart of it. 

The fifth-year hooker is a team veteran who was awarded the division one MVP award last season, and is looking to repeat his dominant performance on the field. As the club’s vice-president, Stewart is ready to serve as a steady hooker on the field and a leader off of it. 

The men’s rugby club’s next match is Oct. 4 against the University of New Brunswick.

Women’s rugby: Grace Bender

In her fourth-year season, Grace Bender is leading the way for the Dalhousie women’s rugby club. Despite losing their season opener against Acadia University, Bender was a force on the field and was presented with the “all-heart” award by Acadia, awarded to the player who exhibits the most heart during the match.

The star hooker is the co-captain and co-president of the women’s rugby club, alongside Samantha Rebitt. Bender’s passion for the game, alongside her leadership skills, are on full display as she leads the women’s rugby club this season. The Tigers’ next match is Oct. 4 against StFX in Antigonish, N.S.