Eckert-Ayensa finding success in North America

Soccer runs in Joel Eckert-­Ayensa's veins, and it's something he grew up immersed in back home in Germany.

The rookie midfielder with the Cape Breton Capers men's soccer team started playing at the age of five. He began as a goalkeeper, just like his father, Ralph Eckert. His dad played Division 1 pro in his native Cologne. Joel admitted he wasn't that great between the pipes, and moved out of the net, playing a number of positions before settling in at midfield.

"With my family background and everyone I know playing soccer, I started playing soccer too," said the 20­-year-­old. "In Germany, it's a culture."

Eckert­-Ayensa played at the highest level of U17 and U19 divisions back home. He moved on to play for Alemannia Achen in Division 4. His first year of senior soccer, he played in Division 5, a non­professional league that he compares to the top teams in Canada. His younger brother's agent is Canadian and knows Capers head coach Deano Morley. Eckert­-Ayensa and Morley connected, and the rest is history.

He said adjusting to life in Cape Breton was a bit of a change, especially coming from a city of over a million people, but says he's fit in nicely and likes the atmosphere of the area. On the field hasn't been an issue.

Eckert-­Ayensa is second on the Capers and tied for seventh in the conference with five goals in 11 games. He's also started all 11 matches he's played.

"I think it seems so, but I haven't scored the five goals alone," he said of his seemingly easy transition to AUS soccer. "Those goals were thanks to my teammates, but it's pretty difficult for a player from Europe to come into the rhythm here because you're not used to playing two games in a weekend in Europe. It's pretty tough. It's physically bigger competition than in Europe, but I'm slowly starting to adapt to this and being more confident week to week."

 Eckert­-Ayensa and his Capers teammates head into this weekend looking to secure a bye into the semi-final round of the Atlantic University Sport playoffs. They're currently in second place in the standings with a 6-­1-­4 record, one point back of the New Brunswick Varsity Reds (7­-2-­2).

Although the Capers offence has been potent this year with 27 goals scored in 11 games, they're defence is even more impressive. They've allowed only four goals all year, seven better than their nearest competition.

"I think the coach did a great job there," Eckert­-Ayensa said of Morley. "I think this year with this defence, as an attacker, you feel very comfortable when you have those players behind you. Technically, against the ball, we play very good. It's very difficult for the other teams to score goals against us."

This weekend will be the last home games for three Capers players. Midfielder Sandro Rajkovic of Hamilton, ON., is moving on after his fifth year, while Liverpool natives Zak Riley, a defender, and Mark Stewart, a midfielder, will graduate following their fourth year of eligibility. CBU challenges Saint Mary's on Saturday and Dalhousie on Sunday at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex turf. Each game begins at 3:15 p.m.

From the Cape Breton Post

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