By Reegan MacAulay
The Holland Hurricanes look to pick themselves up from a weekend filled with mixed results and re-claim a consistent winning pace this weekend with multiple games at home and on the road.
Here’s what’s about to happen in Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association (ACBA), and Atlantic Football League (AFL) action between Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29.
Women’s Soccer
The 2-1-3 Hurricanes women’s soccer team have a big opportunity ahead of them this weekend to build momentum and jump higher in the standings as they will be facing two of the conference’s lower ranked teams, statistically.
On Saturday, Holland will head over to Truro, N.S. to play the Dalhousie Rams, who are 1-5-0 and have lost their last three games. The two teams have played each other once so far this season with the ‘Canes claiming a 6-0 home-opening win on September 8.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes return home to play the Crandall University Chargers, who are also 1-5-0 but are on a four-game losing streak. Crandall seeks revenge after losing 4-0 on ‘Canes turf earlier this month.
While goal-scoring has been relatively quiet for Holland, fourth-year midfielder Hayden Chaisson (St. Louis, P.E.I.) continues to pile on multiple shots per game, rookie midfielder Matsuri Sako (Kiyosu, Japan) got herself on the scoresheet, and second-year star goalkeeper Allison Rutt (Sheffield Mines, N.S.) has been solid through the first half of the regular season.
Saturday and Sunday’s game times are both at 1 p.m. You can watch both matches live at https://acaa.tv.
Connect with the women’s soccer ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswsoccer and www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer.
Men’s Soccer
While the women’s soccer team have a little less worry within themselves, the 1-4-1 men’s soccer team has just one goal in six games and has lost three of their last four games. Things have calmed down in the last two matches as the squad lost 2-0 and tied 0-0, but the transition from several years of being top dogs has been extremely rough.
The boys still have their sights set on a playoff drive and hope to turn things around this weekend by joining the women’s team with a Saturday road trip to Nova Scotia to play the men’s Dalhousie Rams and a home-turf match on Sunday against the men’s Crandall University Chargers.
The men’s Rams are 1-5-0 and are on a two-game losing streak whilst one point behind Holland in the standings; in the previous match between the two teams, the Hurricanes won 3-1 at home earlier this month. The men’s Chargers are three points ahead of the ‘Canes and are on a three-game losing streak; in the last game between the two squads, Holland lost 1-0 in Moncton earlier this month.
While the team has yet to score a goal since Sept. 8, rookie goalkeeper Nolan Kowal (Airdrie, Alberta) has been solid in the last two games with two goals against on 13 total shots.
Saturday and Sunday’s game times are both at 1 p.m. Catch the action live at https://acaa.tv.
Connect with the men’s soccer ‘Canes at www.x.com/canesmsoccer and www.instagram.com/canesmsoccer.
Women’s Rugby
The 2-0 women’s rugby Hurricanes will be in an interesting situation this Sunday; while their season started with a 19-15 win at home, their second game against STU was awarded to them in a forfeit due to a lack of healthy players. Whether the team has been taking advantage of the time off or might be rusty heading into this weekend will show when they face a big challenge in Fredericton, N.B. - stay undefeated (since 2023) against an undefeated team.
The 2-0 University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds will host the Hurricanes for what should be a wild match in Fredericton. UNB started their season with a 19-0 win against STU and a 33-0 win against Mount Allison. The Reds have yet to have a try against them.
Keep an eye out for second-year talent and team captain Annik Whiten (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) to continue pioneering the squad after earning ACAA Female Athlete of the Week honours of the week ending Sept. 15.
Game time is at 2 p.m.
Connect with the women’s rugby ‘Canes at www.x.com/hollandhurricanesrugby.
Cross Country Running
The women’s and men’s cross country running Hurricanes are back in action for their second meet of the 2024 season, which will be this Saturday in Fredericton, N.B. and hosted by the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies.
Holland had a solid start at the first meet in Moncton two weekends ago, with Louisa Lucie-Mackula-Theriault finishing 17th for the individual women runners and the ‘Canes finishing fourth overall in men’s team results.
The women start their run at 12 p.m. and the men begin their run at 1 p.m.
Connect with the cross country running ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/holland_hurricanesxc.
Football
The 1-1 Hurricanes football team hopes to get back into the win column this weekend after losing heartbreakingly in the dying minutes against Dalhousie last Sunday at home.
This Saturday, Holland heads to Saint John, N.B. to play the Saint John Falcons, who are winless after two games and have only scored seven points while losing 69-0 to Dalhousie and 51-7 to UNB to start the season on the road.
Keep an eye out for AFL Week 2 Hurricanes Players of the Week, second-year receiver Keiler Purcell (Mineville, N.S.), second-year defensive back Mathis Blais (North Rustico, P.E.I.), and rookie receiver/returner Keegan Cardona (London, ON), to make sure their squad bounces back from last Sunday’s late-game mishap.
The game will be available to watch live at www.ao.live/falcons.
Connect with the football ‘Canes at www.facebook.com/canesmfootball, www.x.com/canesmfootball and www.instagram.com/canesmfootball.
Baseball
The 6-2 baseball Hurricanes will face teams who have had the opposite start to their regular seasons so far in 2024. They will face the struggling Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday at home, before visiting the league-leaders in Fredericton on Sunday.
Saturday’s doubleheader is against the Dalhousie Tigers, who are 2-8 and have lost their last four games; Holland has not yet played them, but will meet them again on October 6 in Halifax. Sunday’s doubleheader is against the UNB Reds, who are 8-2 and have won their last six games ever since losing 6-5 twice against the ‘Canes to start their season.
Watch out for fourth-year shortstop Dylan Worth (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) to take advantage of his recent spotlight (earning Hurricanes Male Athlete of the Week honours), and players like third-year outfielder Josh Flynn (Moncton, N.B.) and the entire pitching squad, depending on who starts, to carry on recent momentum.
Both doubleheaders have start times of 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Connect with the baseball ‘Canes at www.x.com/hcanesbaseball and www.instagram.com/hollandcanesbaseball.
Connect with the Holland Hurricanes at www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes,www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.
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