Rigby named AUS MVP for second time

Despite winning one of Atlantic University Sport’s most treasured awards Andrew Rigby says his only focus is on a championship banner.

The Cape Breton University Capers midfielder and team co-captain was named the AUS most valuable player for a second time Thursday at an awards banquet in Membertou.

Rigby, the 2009 AUS player of the year, was also selected as a three-time first-team all-star.

The third-year player from Wollaton, England, anchored a Capers squad that scored a league-high 43 goals while allowing just 15. CBU’s 43 goals scored this season ranks fourth all-time in AUS history.

“You know we’ve had a lot of great performers this year on our team,” said Rigby. “It could have been a number of individuals that won it this year. I’m obviously over the moon to win it but, you know, it’s a team effort and soccer is 11 players on the field. I wanna share this with my teammates and we wanna go on and win an AUS banner.”

The No. 2-ranked Cape Breton Capers are hosting this weekend’s AUS championship tournament at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex turf field. CBU is looking to regain its place as conference champions after being edged by the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the 2010 final.

“So far its been a great year, we’ve got a lot of returners from last year and over the two or three years we’ve been together we’re starting to gel really well,” said Rigby.

“Obviously this weekend is when it really matters, so hopefully we can ... go and win the banner this weekend.”

Other 2011 AUS men’s soccer winners include Capers players Ian Greedy and Keishen Bean who were named first-team all-stars. CBU’s Silvano Rajkovic and Damion Vassell were named second-team all-stars.

“What great players do is they make the other players better and that’s what Andrew Rigby, what makes him so special, it makes him the most valuable player on our team,” said CBU men’s head coach Robbie Chiasson.

 “For me personally, I think Andrew is the finest talent that we’ve seen in Cape Breton ever and not just Cape Breton, maybe Atlantic Canada, to play this game. He plays at such a simple and excellent level of play.”

Major award winners announced during the AUS banquet include Dalhousie’s Bezick Evraire of Ottawa, who was named rookie of the year; Mount Allison’s Stuart McAdam of Halifax, who received the student-athlete community service award; and UPEI coaches Lewis Page and Bruce Norton, who shared the coach of the year award.