Dylan Matthias, Sports Editor
September 17 is a day many varsity soccer fans will have circled on their calendar. It is a match that, in both men’s and women’s soccer, might decide the final league standings. Cape Breton visit Dalhousie—a meeting of teams predicted to finish in the top of the league.
The story, however, has taken a twist. The powerful Capers lost three of four games at home last weekend, meaning they sit in the bottom half of the AUS already.
For the women, the match-up just refocuses. Dalhousie dropped two points in a winnable game against Moncton, drawing 0-0. Cape Breton lost to a tricky UPEI side that could very easily trouble the Tigers when they meet two weeks from now. The two teams have started slowly, and can still battle it out.
For the men, the gap is larger. While Dal drew Moncton (and probably should have lost, but for a late penalty kick goal) the CIS-competitive Capers, led by PDL star Andrew Rigby, lost to both UPEI and Memorial 3-2.
Now the Capers will go on the road. It might be just what a struggling team needs. But if Dal come away with wins, it could send the CBU women to 1-2 and the men to 0-3. Those aren’t records that are easy to turn around if the aim is a first place seeding.
Both Tigers teams are struggling to score. If the CBU men can mark Ross Hagen out of the game (not an easy task) then Dal will have to rely on the highly promising but still adapting rookie Tyler Lewars and journeyman Andrew Hutchison.
The Dalhousie women are struggling with long-term injuries to Alannah MacLean and Reika Santilli, which has limited the team’s versatility. Dalhousie’s makeshift back four will have to work better together in order to deal with Erika Lannon and Alyssa Budhoo.
The women kick off on Sept. 18 at 5:00 p.m. on Wickwire Field. The men’s game starts at 7:15 p.m.. The games will be webcast on SSN Canada. (ssncanada.ca)
The Tigers also play next Wednesday at Husky Stadium against Saint Mary’s, at 5:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.. The games will be webcast on Haligonia.ca.
In club sport action, the lacrosse team play their season opener on Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. against SMU at Husky Stadium and play again on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) at Wickwire Field against Acadia.
Kings’ soccer will play in Burnside on Sept 18, with the women against St. Thomas at 6:00 p.m. and the men at 8:00 p.m.. The Blue Devils will return to Wickwire Field on Sunday to play UNB Saint John. The women are at 11:00 a.m., the men at 1:00.
Two other Halifax schools will be in action on the weekend, with Mount Saint Vincent hosting UNB Saint John and St. Thomas at Mainland Commons in ACAA soccer on Saturday and Sunday respectively. The women are at 2:00 p.m. Saturday and the men are at 4:00. The Sunday games are noon for the women and 2:00 p.m. for the men.
SMU football will play a much-anticipated QSSF cross-over against Laval tomorrow at 2:00. It’s homecoming weekend at SMU, so if you can’t get a seat at Husky stadium, you can watch on Eastlink TV. The Huskies are coming off a shock loss to the Acadia Axemen and will have a tough test against the Rouge et Or.
Around the league, a meeting of up and coming men’s soccer programs awaits as SMU travel to UPEI to tangle with last year’s AUS runners-up on Saturday.
Did we forget anything? Let us know at sports@dalgazette.com
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