CAPERS Strive for AUS Glory as Ally Rowe Nears End of Record-Breaking Career

NESS TIMMONS knows his time coaching AUS all-time top scorer Ally Rowe is ticking down and he has vowed to appreciate every game. 

The undefeated CBU CAPERS Women's program go into the AUS championship semi-final tomorrow (Friday October 25), with a superb regular season record of 10-0-2. 

Rowe's 21 goals so far this season in her closing year in orange have swept her past the previous mark of 72 career strikes of Saint Mary's Huskies Men's legend Ross Webb as she now stands on 77 Conference counters. 

Head Coach Timmons goes into his final AUS play-off series with his talismanic striker with a sense of burgeoning pride tinged with the sting of a little regret. "We are now coming towards the end of the CBU journey with Ally," admits Ness. "You just want to keep prolonging it a little and we will appreciate every game we have left with her. She's just a special player and she has driven us on this season, not only with her goals but when she has dropped back into the number 10 slot to be a playmaker too." 

That unbeaten campaign earned the CAPERS a bye into the last four and that's a privilege that is cherished by an iconic coach now in his 29th season at the helm. Throughout the 2024 title quest Timmons' side have dealt with injuries to key players such as Charly Mitchell, Lauren Rowe and Amy-Anne Ndiaye. They were beaten up at the start of it all but look to be peaking at just the right time at the business end of the season. 

"Going in with the bye is huge, you can watch the quarter-final games and have that extra day of rest. We have had those two entertaining ties with Acadia and three edgy 1-0 wins but we go into AUS time undefeated and I feel that in this Conference this season – with the parity there is between all the sides - that's an excellent achievement." 

One of the key cogs in the CAPERS machine has been new recruit Haylie Clarke from Victoria, British Columbia, who is studying a BSc in Nursing as she juggles her time in Year One as a student athlete. Haylie has shone both as a central defender and in the holding midfield role and the fact that she has been trusted in those slots shows the wisdom of her recruitment. 

"She has grown both as a player whether it be at the heart of defence or in the centre of the midfield and that says a lot for a rookie to display that level of maturity. To be given the responsible roles she has and fulfil them the way she has? That's impressive." 

Friday beckons now. The CAPERS will meet the winners of Dalhousie and Memorial and Coach Timmons' side must focus on what is ahead of them. From the rookie to the outgoing veteran, two players with one dream, one team with one shared goal. A path that veteran Coach Timmons has trodden so many times before. 

This time Ness and his team will strive to ensure CBU end up with a seat in the Front Rowe.