Capers Stand Alone
November 6, 2012
Across our vast country, the majority of universities compete in men’s and women’s soccer under the umbrella of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, but on Thursday, only one will still have teams competing in both sports.
When the Cape Breton University Capers squads take to the pitch in Victoria, BC and Laval, PQ, for the CIS championship quarter-finals, they will be the only school of 49 across Canada to have the honour of both men’s and women’s soccer teams qualifying for the national championship events.
“It’s really quite an amazing accomplishment when you think about it,” said John Ryan, CBU’s Director of Athletics. “For a smaller university such as ours to have developed programs where we not only compete with the best in Atlantic Canada, but the best in the country as well is something everyone at CBU should take a great deal of pride in.
“There are many institutions with larger enrollments and more history, but only CBU can say both its soccer programs will compete for a national title this weekend.”
For the Capers men’s side, CIS bronze medalists a year ago, the road back to the national tourney was a winding one.
Sitting in seventh spot in the AUS standings and needing wins at home in their final two games to simply qualify for the postseason; the team regained its composure when needed and not only won those two, but ran off three consecutive victories in the AUS championship tournament to win their third title in the past six years.
On the women’s side, an undefeated regular season had hopes high for the Capers as they hosted the AUS championship. While the home side fell in the championship game, the CIS No. 5 ranked Capers locked up their berth at the CIS championship with their appearance in the final.
“Both teams found different ways to get to the CIS championship and while you always like to advance as the AUS champion, at the end of the day, you can’t play for a CIS title if you’re not there and I’m excited for both teams as they compete on the national stage,” said Ryan, who pointed out this is the eighth consecutive year at least one Capers soccer team has advanced to the national championship.
At the CIS Men’s Soccer Championship In Laval, PQ, the Capers will face the Carleton Ravens in the quarter-finals in a 12 noon (AST) start Thursday while in Victoria, BC, the women’s Capers will have a quarter-final matchup with the Ottawa Gee Gees staring at 3 p.m. (AST).
When the Cape Breton University Capers squads take to the pitch in Victoria, BC and Laval, PQ, for the CIS championship quarter-finals, they will be the only school of 49 across Canada to have the honour of both men’s and women’s soccer teams qualifying for the national championship events.
“It’s really quite an amazing accomplishment when you think about it,” said John Ryan, CBU’s Director of Athletics. “For a smaller university such as ours to have developed programs where we not only compete with the best in Atlantic Canada, but the best in the country as well is something everyone at CBU should take a great deal of pride in.
“There are many institutions with larger enrollments and more history, but only CBU can say both its soccer programs will compete for a national title this weekend.”
For the Capers men’s side, CIS bronze medalists a year ago, the road back to the national tourney was a winding one.
Sitting in seventh spot in the AUS standings and needing wins at home in their final two games to simply qualify for the postseason; the team regained its composure when needed and not only won those two, but ran off three consecutive victories in the AUS championship tournament to win their third title in the past six years.
On the women’s side, an undefeated regular season had hopes high for the Capers as they hosted the AUS championship. While the home side fell in the championship game, the CIS No. 5 ranked Capers locked up their berth at the CIS championship with their appearance in the final.
“Both teams found different ways to get to the CIS championship and while you always like to advance as the AUS champion, at the end of the day, you can’t play for a CIS title if you’re not there and I’m excited for both teams as they compete on the national stage,” said Ryan, who pointed out this is the eighth consecutive year at least one Capers soccer team has advanced to the national championship.
At the CIS Men’s Soccer Championship In Laval, PQ, the Capers will face the Carleton Ravens in the quarter-finals in a 12 noon (AST) start Thursday while in Victoria, BC, the women’s Capers will have a quarter-final matchup with the Ottawa Gee Gees staring at 3 p.m. (AST).