Weekly Preview

Key Soccer Roadtrip Highlights Schedule

(Sept. 30, 2009) The Sea~Hawks soccer teams and the men’s basketball team will see action this weekend on the road. The soccer teams will play a pivotal three game roadtrip in Nova Scotia against Dalhousie, Saint Mary’s and Acadia. The men’s basketball team will be seeing their first action of 2009-10 as they travel to Miramichi for the University Hoops Showcase on the River.

Women’s Soccer

Memorial’s women’s soccer team will try to pick up where they left off this weekend when they travel to Nova Scotia for a very important three game road trip. Although it is only the beginning of October, this road trip could prove pivotal if Memorial is to secure a bye position for the AUS championship.

After having last weekend off, the women will look to pick up their second win of the season on Friday night when they kick off their road trip in Halifax at Dalhousie’s Wickwire Field when they take on the Tigers. Memorial will be out to avenge last year’s 2-1 AUS semi-final loss at the hands of the Tigers, while also looking to play spoiler and hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. As the ‘Hawks try to get their offense rolling and get more production from forwards Vicki Thistle, Nichole Adams and Laura Breen, they will be in tough against a Dalhousie team that has only allowed two goals all season.

On Saturday, the Sea~Hawks will stay in Halifax but travel down the road when they face off against the Saint Mary’s Huskies. The Huskies are currently only one point ahead of the Sea~Hawks in the AUS standings with a record of 1-3-1. After picking up the first shutout of her university career against Cape Breton, rookie keeper Keira Eavis will try to keep the Huskies offense at bay. Saint Mary’s has only scored one goal so far this season. With a 1-1 tie, and a 2-1 loss last season against the Huskies, the Sea~Hawks will be out to prove themselves in front of the Halifax crowd.

Rounding out their Nova Scotia tour on Sunday, the Sea~Hawks will travel to Wolfville, N.S. where they will play the Acadia Axewomen. Acadia currently sits in 7th place in the AUS standings, but is only one point up on the ‘Hawks. Much like Memorial, Acadia’s offense has been struggling to find the back of the net this season, having netted only two goals thus far. With two goals in last year’s 4-1 victory over the Axewomen, Sea~Hawks forward Nichole Adams will look to get her name on the score sheet and get back into last season’s All-Star form.

With three road wins this weekend, Memorial will be right back on track for November’s AUS Championship which will take place at home at King George V Park.

Men’s Soccer

The Memorial Sea~Hawks men’s soccer team will also hit the road this weekend for a crucial three game road trip in Nova Scotia. The Sea~Hawks have been bitten hard by the injury bug to start the season, with ailments taking down their number one and two keepers. The good news for the ‘Hawks is that when the team hits the road this weekend, five of their six injured veterans are expected to be made available for the trip. Chris Bulger, Aaron Anstey, Andrew Stanford, Colin Baker, and Tyler Putt will all make their season debut wearing the red and white.

The Sea~Hawks will face their toughest test of the season right off the bat on Friday evening when they play the Dalhousie Tigers. The 2008 AUS Champion Tigers are currently ranked 4th in the CIS and are undefeated on the season. 2007 Sea~Hawks MVP Tyler Putt is expected to make his return in net for the Sea~Hawks, and will need to bring his ‘A’ game against a talented Dalhousie offense that has seen seven players reach the back of the net at least once this year. Memorial will look to leading scorers Zach Wade, and Steven DeLong to take on a Tigers defense that has only allowed one goal on the season. A win over the Tigers will be a big boost for a long weekend of soccer.

Staying in the city, the Sea~Hawks will meet the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the second of the three game swing on Saturday evening at Huskies Stadium. The match will be a battle as both teams are currently tied in the AUS standings, with the Sea~Hawks having a game at hand. Defense will play an important role in this game as both teams look to better their goals against records which are near the bottom of the league. Expect Collin Power and Chris Pope to take charge defensively if the ‘Hawks plan to better last year’s 2-0 loss to the Huskies.

The Sea~Hawks will travel to Wolfville, N.S. on Sunday where they will finish their road trip against the Acadia Axemen. The Axemen will be fighting hard looking for their first victory of the season and to move out of last position in the AUS. Acadia’s offense has been their biggest issue so far this season, with no player recording a goal thus far, a streak Memorial does not want to see come to an end. The Sea~Hawks cannot afford to underestimate the Axemen, as they need all the wins they can get if they wish to make a run for the AUS playoffs this season.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team will be returning to the court for 2009-10 with many new faces in the lineup as they travel to Miramichi to take part in the University Hoops Showcase on the River.

The team will play three games on the weekend. On Saturday it will be Memorial versus Crandall University at 8:00 p.m. On Sunday the Sea~Hawks will play two games; 10:00 a.m. versus St. Thomas University and 4:00 p.m. against Holland College.

The team will be led by forward Jason Shepherd as well as other returning players Steven Earles, Manny Wilby, Mark Woodland, Justin Penney and sophomores Robbie Habib, Matt Cleary, Mike Quigley, and Ryan McCluskey.

Supporters of the Sea~Hawks will take notice of the increased size of the team in the front court. Ante Somodol, a native 6’7 Croatian transferring from Germany, is a talented athlete who will make an immediate impact in the middle. Also joining the team are rookie forwards Alex Harding and an improved Jordan Constantine, who was a red shirt last season. At the wing position Memorial will also welcome some depth with the addition of Mike Helsby and the athletic Justin Grainger.

Head coach Peter Benoite is excited about the roadtrip this weekend. He said, “We are looking forward to getting back on the court. The guys have worked hard in the offseason and we have added players that will immediately make us bigger, deeper and more athletic. It should be a great tune-up for the AUS season.”

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Sept. 16, 2009

Sept. 09, 2009