The Holland Hurricanes completed their 2021 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) regular seasons over the weekend at the Terry Fox Sports Complex in Cornwall.  The men’s and women’s Hurricanes welcomed the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves and the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies to the island, as teams jostled for position ahead of the 2021 ACAA Soccer Championships.

Goals from Emily Lepine (6’, 36’) and Sarah MacVarish (19’, 51’), and solid goaltending from Brianna Spencer, gave the women’s Hurricanes the 4-0 victory over the UNBSJ Seawolves on Saturday in Cornwall.  The ‘Canes outshot the Seawolves 18-5 in the match.

The victory clinched the number one seed for the Hurricanes while the Seawolves fell to 7-5-0 and finished in fourth.  This was a preview of the ACAA semi-final match taking place on October 30 in Halifax, Nova Scotia; kick-off is at 10am.

The ‘Canes won the season series versus UNBSJ 2-0, also defeating them on September 11, 3-1.

On Sunday, the Hurricanes received goals from Emily Cormier (29’), Macy Chiasson (71’, 90’) and Sarah MacVarish (80’) in a 4-0 win over the STU Tommies; Brianna Spencer was once again in goal for the ‘Canes.  Shots were 21-2 in favour of Holland College in the match.

With the loss, the Tommies finished the regular season at 2-7-3 and in fifth place in the ACAA. The Hurricanes finished at 9-2-1, four-points ahead of the second place, Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics (7-2-3); the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils finished third at 6-2-4.

The men’s Hurricanes entered the weekend in a battle for top-spot in the ACAA standings. They began the weekend by facing the UNBSJ Seawolves.

A Seawolves goal in the 54’ by Thomas Barbara put the ‘Canes behind in the second half, until Mohammad Alhaj Ali found the back of the net in the 77’ to tie the game.  Alhaj Ali would contribute once again in a big way, scoring in the 85’ and giving the ‘Canes the 2-1 lead, and eventual win.

Keegan MacKinnon was the goalkeeper for the Hurricanes in the win.  The shots were 8-8 in the match.

Sundays match versus STU would be a battle for the number one seed in the conference at the ACAA championships.

After a scoreless first half, the Tommies managed to break the tie in the 52’ when Brett Springer scored.  STU would then add an insurance marker in the 86’ off the foot of Chidubem Nkoloagau, giving STU the 2-0 win.

Shots in the game were 16-6 in favour of the Tommies; Keegan MacKinnon played in goal for the ‘Canes.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Tommies sit atop the standings at 10-0-2, a single point up on the 10-1-1 Hurricanes.

The ‘Canes, the number two seeds, will face the number three seeds from MSVU at 5:30pm on October 30 in Halifax.  The Mystics finished the regular season at 5-4-3.  In two meetings this season, the Hurricanes won both matches, 3-1 and 3-2.

The other semi-final match will feature the Tommies taking on the UNBSJ Seawolves (5-4-3) at 3pm on October 30.

For more information on the 2021 ACAA Championship, including links to watch all games live streamed, visit www.acaa.ca.

Connect with the soccer Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/caneswsoccer, www.twitter.com/canesmsoccer, www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer and www.instagram.com/canesmsoccer.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, please visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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