By Noel Arnason
November marks the end of fall sports and the start of the winter sports season indoors. Here’s what you missed in the AFL Championship, ACAA Soccer Championships, ACAA men’s volleyball home opener, women’s volleyball and the opening weekend of the ACHA women’s hockey season.
The football team’s season came to an end in the Moosehead Cup after a 45-21 loss to the Dalhousie Tigers at Wickwire Field in Halifax this past weekend.
The Hurricanes and Tigers went back and forth for three quarters before Dalhousie pulled away to claim its third consecutive championship.
The first quarter featured little offence from either team, with both defences keeping things tight. Dalhousie scored the only touchdown of the quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
Holland responded early in the second quarter when Noah Amos caught a pass from Grayson Fox over a Tigers defender to tie the game at 7-7.
Dalhousie regained the lead on its next offensive drive. After a quick two-and-out from the Hurricanes, the Tigers added another touchdown to make it 14-7.
With just over a minute remaining in the half, Fox aired out another deep pass to Amos, who caught his second touchdown of the day to make it a one-score game.
Coming out of the half, the Tigers blocked a punt in the Hurricanes’ end zone and recovered the ball for a touchdown to make it 28-14.
Makhi Magloir followed up the blocked punt with a receiving touchdown for the Hurricanes, giving Holland some life and bringing its total to 21 points.
Holland’s offence fizzled out in the fourth quarter while Dalhousie’s came alive, as the Tigers secured the 45-21 victory.
The Hurricanes’ season came to an end Saturday with a semifinal loss to the STU Tommies in a defensive battle.
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 2-1 loss vs. STU Tommies
Holland couldn’t replicate its earlier success against the Tommies after handing them their first loss of the season earlier in the year.
The Tommies opened the scoring in the 37th minute and carried a 1-0 lead into halftime. STU added another goal in the 62nd minute to take a two-goal advantage.
The Hurricanes responded in the 71st minute to make it 2-1 but were unable to find the back of the net again.
Despite the loss, Holland outshot the Tommies 8-3.
The men’s soccer team made a strong run to the ACAA final but ultimately came up short in its quest for gold.
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 5-3 win vs. UNBSJ Seawolves (penalty kicks)
The Hurricanes knocked off the first-seeded and host UNBSJ Seawolves in the semifinals Saturday, advancing after a penalty shootout.
Neither team found the back of the net in regulation, sending the game to two 15-minute overtime periods. With the score still tied after extra time, the match was decided by penalty kicks.
Both teams converted their first two attempts before Hurricanes goalkeeper Kole MacWilliams made a crucial save in the third round to put Holland in a position to win.
Andrew Stewart converted in the fifth and final round to seal the victory, sending the Hurricanes to the championship game.
Sunday, Nov. 1 — 3-0 loss vs. STU Tommies
The Hurricanes’ run came to an end in the final with a 3-0 loss to the STU Tommies, falling short of ACAA gold and a trip to the CCAA Nationals.
The Tommies opened the scoring in the 22nd minute before adding another in the 70th. STU sealed the victory with a third goal in the 83rd minute.
The Hurricanes recorded three shots on target, while MacWilliams made 10 saves in the loss.
The Hurricanes women’s volleyball team continued its hot start, defeating the Dalhousie AC Rams to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 3-1 win vs. Dal AC Rams
The Hurricanes entered Saturday’s match looking to continue the offensive success they showed last weekend, and they delivered with a 25-17 win in the opening set, followed by a 25-18 victory in the second.
Holland dropped the third set 25-19 for its first set loss of the season but bounced back in the fourth with a 25-11 win to take the match 3-1.
Maria Moores and Abby MacDonald once again led the offensive charge.
Moores finished with 10 kills, three service aces and seven digs, along with a .389 hitting percentage. MacDonald recorded eight kills, four service aces and two blocks, posting a .429 hitting percentage.
The men’s volleyball team opened its season in dominant fashion, recording two 3-0 sweeps over the Dalhousie AC Rams.
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 3-0 win vs. Dal AC Rams
The Hurricanes controlled the opening set from start to finish, winning 25-12 before taking the second 25-16 and the third 25-13.
The offence was spread throughout the lineup, with Carson Gray and Zach Warren recording four kills apiece. Keiran Hamlin, Kalan Billard and Tovey Rideout each added two kills.
Brett MacAusland finished with three kills at a .750 hitting percentage, along with two blocks. Nearly the entire Hurricanes lineup recorded at least one kill.
Sunday, Nov. 1 — 3-0 win vs. Dal AC Rams
Saturday’s success carried over into Sunday, with the Hurricanes continuing their dominance at the net.
Holland won the opening set 25-18, followed by a 25-14 victory in the second and a 25-19 win in the third to complete another 3-0 sweep and improve to 2-0 on the season.
Billard led the Hurricanes offensively with 11 kills, three blocks and an .846 hitting percentage. Gray was next with seven kills and a .600 hitting percentage, while Warren added six kills. MacAusland finished with four kills.
The women’s hockey team opened its season this past weekend, hosting the Acadia Axewomen at the Eastlink Centre.
Saturday, Oct. 31 — 3-1 loss vs. Acadia Axewomen
Saturday’s game featured limited offence from the Hurricanes, who entered the matchup without a training camp and with only two practices under their belts.
Holland’s lone goal came in the third period when Gabrielle LeBlanc beat the Acadia goaltender five-hole on a breakaway to spoil the shutout.
Sunday, Nov. 1 — 3-2 overtime loss vs. Acadia Axewomen
The Hurricanes put together a stronger showing Sunday against the Axewomen in a tightly contested matchup.
Acadia scored the lone goal of the first period. In the second, Holland capitalized on a power play when Cassie Gordon scored her first goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
Rookie Jasmine Nolan then scored her first goal as a Hurricane to give Holland a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.
The Axewomen tied the game in the third before scoring in overtime to secure the victory, leaving the Hurricanes with two losses to open their season.
The cross-country team wrapped up its season this past weekend at the ACAA Championships in Fredericton.
In the women’s race, Emilie Doucette brought home silver, finishing second with a time of 24:58.2, just 36.5 seconds behind first place.
In the men’s race, Ben Perrin finished ninth with a time of 29:56.0, finishing 3:42.8 behind the first-place runner.
Congrats Doucette on your silver medal!
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