By Reegan MacAulay
It was a weekend of mixed results for the Holland Hurricanes in mid-September Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), Atlantic Football League (AFL) and Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association (ACBA) action. While the baseball, football, and women’s rugby teams each had outstanding starts to their respective seasons, and the men’s and women’s cross country running teams had a solid first meet, the men’s and women’s soccer teams combined for just one point in four games.
Women’s Rugby
The Hurricanes women’s rugby team continued their undefeated streak into the 2024 season with a home-opening 19-15 win against the visiting Mount Allison University Mounties on Sunday, Sept. 15 at Co-Op Field in Charlottetown.
Each team battled through warm temperatures while engaging in a thrilling ACAA championship rematch, with the ‘Canes barely hanging on to a close lead the whole way. Second-year star Annik Whiten (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) and rookie back row Emily Nauss (Quispamsis, N.B.) worked together with strong runs and maneuvers to keep Holland ahead throughout the game, with Whiten, in particular, claiming two tries.
While Jenay Spence and Skylar Harding combined for three tries in a resilient effort for the Mounties, it wasn’t enough to conquer the defending ACAA women’s rugby champions.
The ‘Canes will have a week to prepare for their next game on Sunday, Sept. 22. The St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies will come to town seeking their first win of the season after a 19-0 loss to the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds in their home-opening game on the same day as Holland’s home-opening win.
Connect with the women’s rugby ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanesrugby.
Football
There was no better way to start off the 2024 AFL regular season for the Hurricanes than by dramatically defeating the reigning champions at their home-opening game on Sunday.
In a wild one in Charlottetown at the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place, Holland came back from being down 6-0 and 11-5 heading into the fourth quarter and scored multiple times to take the victory, 20-11.
UNB would open the game with a touchdown early in the game off a quarterback sneak to put them ahead. The Hurricanes managed to cut into the lead with a safety off a punt from Simon Hales (Victoria, BC) late in the quarter.
A second quarter field goal by Hales would cut the lead down to 7-5 before a field goal by UNB before half sent the teams to the locker rooms with the Reds ahead, 10-5.
The second half would see UNB miss a field-goal but secure a point with a rouge to make it 11-5.
The ‘Canes would enter the final quarter down by six, which was erased when Keegan Cardona scored a touchdown with 14:18 remaining. A blocked extra point had the game tied at 11-11.
Hales would put the ‘Canes ahead with a rouge off the kickoff on the next play, putting the ‘Canes up 12-11, before a touchdown late in the quarter by Aaron McCardle extended the lead to 19-11. A rouge to end the game gave the ‘Canes the 20-11 victory.
Sitting at 1-0, Holland returns to the field next Sunday, Sept. 22 in Charlottetown for a game against the Dalhousie Tigers, who routed the Saint John Falcons in their home-opening game on Saturday 69-0.
Connect with the football ‘Canes at www.facebook.com/canesmfootball, www.x.com/canesmfootball and www.instagram.com/canesmfootball.
Baseball
It was an incredible start to the 2024 season for the Hurricanes baseball team, as they won all four games across two doubleheaders in two days, including two 6-5 wins against the UNB Reds on Saturday, Sept. 14 and two double-digit victories against the Saint Mary’s University (SMU) Huskies on Sunday, Sept. 15. There were also multiple clutch performances and plenty of promising moments from rookies.
Saturday’s doubleheader saw two games where ‘Canes fans got their money’s worth with exciting, heart-pounding ACBA action. It took some time for Holland to get things rolling in game one as they were down 4-0 in the fifth inning, but a sacrifice fly by rookie Cayle Coffin (Pisquid, P.E.I.) and a single by past ACBA All-Star shortstop Dylan Worth (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) tied the game in the seventh inning. Then, after going down 5-4 at the top of the eighth inning, second-year infielder Rhyan Storr (Freeport, Bahamas) and rookie Thomas MacEachern (Cardigan, P.E.I.) came in clutch with doubles at the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.
Game two saw similar circumstances play out, except this time, Holland jumped out to a 2-1 lead thanks to a double by third-year catcher Duncan Picketts (Kensington, P.E.I.). UNB rebounded by taking advantage of a ‘Canes error to take a 4-2 lead, which then Holland came back to tie the game with a single by Worth. The Reds took the lead one more time but had their chances of winning squashed with yet more clutch performances at the bottom of the seventh to win the game, this time by third-year infielder Sam Worth (Stratford, P.E.I.) and rookie Elliot Proud (Stratford, P.E.I.).
Between those two games, the ‘Canes had an excellent pitching effort which included a total of 11 strikes and six walks contributed by Smith and rookie Alex Hache (Ottawa, ON), along with totalling 12 stolen bases. Rookie Simon Dubois (Stittsville, ON) had a phenomenal debut, totalling five hits.
Sunday’s doubleheader was a much different story as the ‘Canes routed the SMU Huskies 11-3 and 11-1. The game one win was credited to a seven-run inning in the sixth with rookie outfielder Caden Doyle (Mermaid, P.E.I.), Smith, Dylan and Sam Worth all contributing. MacEachern had a solid first pitching effort across six innings, giving up four hits and one run and striking out five and walking one. 10 hits were totalled by Holland.
The game two win saw yet another fantastic performance by Proud, who recorded three hits in three at bats and singled in three different innings. Him, Smith, Dubois, and Sam Worth each contributed to the other runs while Cayle Coffin pitched and claimed the win with five hits and two runs given up over five and two-thirds innings while striking out four and walking three. 13 hits were recorded by Holland.
Now at the top of the league with a 4-0-0 record and a proud new head coach, the ‘Canes will take their momentum to Nova Scotia next weekend and look to come out with an 8-0-0 record. On Saturday, Sept. 21, Holland faces the 3-1-0 Acadia Axemen, with that doubleheader being Acadia’s home-opener. On Sunday, Sept. 22, the Hurricanes face the 2-2-0 St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) X-Men in Antigonish.
Connect with the baseball Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/hollandcanesbaseball and www.x.com/HCanesbaseball.
Women’s Soccer
It was a weekend of heartbreak and close calls for the Hurricanes women’s soccer team at home, featuring a 1-1 draw against the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves on Saturday and a 3-2 loss against the STU Tommies on Sunday, which was the team’s first regulation time loss since 2022.
Saturday’s game was a defensive and goaltending clinic, as neither team could score beyond one goal each. Rookie forward Tamara Gauthier (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) tallied Holland’s only goal of the game which was her first career ACAA goal; she scored in the 85’ to even the match, allowing the ‘Canes to escape with a single point. Second-year star goalkeeper Allison Rutt (Sheffield Mines, N.S.) made her third start of the season.
Heading into Sunday’s game with a 2-0-1 record, the ‘Canes were met with an unexpectedly strong start by the Tommies, who were 0-1-2 coming into the match. Lindsey Smith got STU on the board in the 11th minute while also adding another goal alongside Zoe Vautour at minutes 35 and 36. Second-year forward Kristyn Taylor (Summerside, P.E.I.) got Holland on the board in the 38th minute, starting a comeback rally which gained further power in the 54th minute as rookie defense Georgia Doucette (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) scored her first career ACAA goal. Unfortunately, the rally fell short thanks to a gritty defensive effort by the Tommies in the closing minutes.
Rutt started the game in goal albeit having to be substituted for by rookie goalkeeper Tasha Kowalchuk (Meadowbank, P.E.I.) mid-game due to a hand injury.
The ‘Canes look to get back on winning terms next weekend with a pair of games on the road in Halifax, N.S., including a visit to the University of King’s College (UKC) to play the Blue Devils on Saturday, Sept. 21 and a trip to Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) to challenge the Mystics on Saturday, Sept. 22. UKC is 2-1-1 and tied with Holland for second place in the standings after four games and MSVU leads the league with a 2-0-2 record and eight points, one above UKC and Holland.
Connect with the women’s soccer ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer and www.x.com/caneswsoccer.
Men’s Soccer
Things weren’t much better for the Hurricanes men’s soccer team as they failed to score a goal across two home games, losing 4-0 to the UNBSJ Seawolves on Saturday and a whopping 9-0 to the league-leading STU Tommies on Sunday.
Saturday’s game saw UNBSJ score one goal in the first half while piling on three more to clinch the game in the second half. Multiple yellow cards were displayed throughout the match.
Sunday’s game was the complete opposite of Saturdays in terms of when the domination occurred, as the Tommies strangled the ‘Canes with five goals in the first half, four of which were scored within 18 minutes and one being an own goal. A further four goals in the second half solidified a disappointing result that saw Holland register just four shots (two shots on goal) compared to STU’s 29 (15 shots on goal).
Rookie goalkeeper Nolan Kowal (Airdrie, AB) started in goal in both games.
Now sitting tied for sixth in the ACAA with a 1-3-0 record, the squad seeks a massive resurgence next weekend in Halifax, N.S., joining the women’s team to play the men’s UKC Blue Devils on Saturday, Sept. 21 and the men’s MSVU Mystics on Sunday, Sept. 22. UKC has tied all four of their games played so far while MSVU is 1-2-1 and tied with UKC for fourth in the ACAA.
Connect with the men’s soccer ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/canesmsoccer and www.x.com/canesmsoccer.
Cross Country Running
The Hurricanes women’s and men’s cross country running teams had their first meet of the 2024 season at Crandall University in Moncton, N.B. on Saturday.
In the 12 p.m. women’s meet, which Holland remained individual in versus as a team, Louisa Lucie-Mackula-Theriault was the highest-finishing Hurricane in 17th with a 34:33.9 finish time, while Katie Astley finished 18th with a 34:34.5 finishing time.
In the 1 p.m. men’s meet, the ‘Canes finished fourth overall in team results. Max Lahey was the highest-finishing Hurricane in ninth with a 34:14.6 finishing time. Kevin Cotter and Theo Nketsiah finished behind him in 16th and 17th, while Luke Potter, Sam Hulan, and Brandon Atkinson finished 19th through 21st. Individual runners Klein D’Souza, Gideon Ndung’u Njuguna, and Luca Brulotte finished 31st, 34th, and 35th, respectively.
The next ACAA cross country meet will be in two weekends in Fredericton, N.B. at St. Thomas University on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Connect with the cross country running Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/holland_hurricanesxc.
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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