Capers set to defend title

Who will prevail in Atlantic university women’s soccer is anyone’s guess.

Last season, the Cape Breton Capers captured their sixth conference banner in eight years despite finishing third during the regular season and not having the benefit of a quarter-final bye at the AUS tournament.

As the league prepares to open its 2011 campaign on four fronts Saturday, only one Atlantic conference squad — the UPEI CPanthers — cracked the top 10 in the latest CIS women’s soccer rankings and that’s at No. 10.

Longtime Capers head coach Ness Timmons acknowledges repeating as league champs will be a challenging undertaking because nearly every team is capable of winning it all this season.

"Our league is wide open," Timmons said in an interview Wednesday afternoon. "It was very close last year and there are several teams I think that can win the AUS this year."

CBU prevailed in 2010 with three wins in three games at the conference tournament. Each was by shutout, including a 1-0 victory over previously-unbeaten UPEI in the championship final.

Much of the core from last season’s roster remains intact including sophomore keeper Tiffany O’Donnell, league rookie of the year Jessica Furtado and all-stars Robbyn McNeill, Katherine Mills and Kyla Cunningham. But the Capers are young with seven rookies and seven second-year players.

Key losses include Caitlin Shaw and captain Alyssa Kavanaugh.

"We’re looking OK," Timmons said. "We are kind of young but we have some veterans who went through the rigors of last season.

"Making the playoffs will be everything. Much like last year, if you get there, you have a shot at a title."

The Capers open on the road Saturday in Wolfville against the Acadia Axewomen. Other games include Dalhousie hosting UPEI, UNB visiting Memorial and Mount Allison taking on Moncton.