X-Men seek return to AUS playoffs

The StFX X-Men soccer team wants to return to the AUS playoffs, after a one-year absence.

"I am excited about this year's team, I am excited at the possibilities," says X-Men head coach Graham Kennedy, who is entering his eighth season.

"I think we are going to be a hard team to play against and we are a team that is just a fantastic unit. We have tremendous unity on this team and it is a hard-working group of boys, so I am really pleased."

As far as playing style, Kennedy said fans should expect "more guys who are capable of playing more minutes than we have ever had."

"At least more than we have had since, probably, back in that 2009-11 period, where we were pretty solid. I think we have a team here where we have got a lot of guys who are willing to press and work hard, so I think we are team that can play a little more of an up-tempo style, where we are pressing higher and defending higher up the pitch.

"I think you will see a team that's a bit more explosive, in the moment that we win the ball. I think we are a team that can attack and hurt teams early, in a possession phase, and if all indications go as I think they are going, we are going to be a team that is very difficult to score on," he added.

Kennedy noted keeping opponents off the score sheet is "probably the most important piece of the whole picture."

"If we can cut down on the number of counter-attack goals that we have been allowing the last couple of years, and get some clean sheets, I think that we are going to be a team that will be very hard to keep off the scoreboard," he said.

"And, if we can keep the opponent from scoring, I like our chances of having a good year."

Strong recruiting class

The X-Men enter the 2016-17 campaign without Michael Al-Assadi, Serge Dossou, Kareem Henry, Trevor Kwan, and Randy Ribiero, who have all graduated.

"It's a squad that we have built on two years of solid recruiting," Kennedy said of the latest StFX squad.

"We are a young team that is a very talented team. We probably lack a little bit on the experience end of things, but – given the choice of talent or experience – I will usually go with talent, so I am really pleased with these guys."

The X-Men's strong recruiting class features five players, including Josh Read, a 6'4" central defender, who played League 2 for Exeter City FC, after graduating from Exeter City FC's youth academy, where he was captain of the U-18 team.

"He is probably the crown jewel of this year's recruiting class," Kennedy said of the Beechen Cliff School graduate, who will be in the Bachelor of Arts in Human Kinetics program, where he hopes to pursue a career in education and coaching.

He added the central defender is "big and skillful."

"Josh is strong and just a born leader, who has played at a very high level, in comparison to his peers who are here, and a guy who can kind of follow in the footsteps of the likes of Max Maund and Ryan Ashlee [former X-Men all-star defenders], as that lynchpin of our defense.

"He is the type of player that you build a defense around and we have got really, really high hopes for him," Kennedy added.

Tane Caubo is a 5'10" forward out of Barnet FC in London, where he played for the U-18 Academy team, and was a regular call up to the U-21 and reserve teams. A 2016 graduate of Graveney School, Caubo previously played with London's Metropolitan Police FC, before being scouted and signed by League 2 club Barnet FC.

"He is a legitimate out-and-out striker, which is something we haven't had here in some time; we haven't had a natural goal scorer since, probably, Michael Marousek left, or Jamar Dixon," Kennedy said of the Bachelor of Arts student.

"Tane is a kid that brings loads of speed, played at a really good level in the United Kingdom, and will bring us – I think he is a kid who can partner with a couple other kids that we already have – hopefully, someone who can deliver that final touch that will make goal scoring a bit easier for our team. At least that's the plan."

William Warren, a 5'9" attacking player from Suburban FC in Halifax and a five-year member of Team Nova Scotia, who has also been selected for Team Atlantic, will pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

"He is a kid that I was just delighted to get," Kennedy said of the École Secondaire du Sommet graduate.

"I believe that, in Atlantic Canada, that we have gotten – in William Warren – the most creative and explosive attacking player in the group. I am really pleased to have gotten him." 

Jack Eliot, a 6'3" central defender from Halifax City FC and J.L. Ilsley High School, comes from StFX stock; his father, Luke, and uncle, Chris, are former X-Men, while his mother, Colleen, is also a StFX graduate.

"I describe Jack as one for the future. He is a big body, a good athlete, a really strong character kid and a good student who, I think, with a little bit of work, can be a really top defender for us in years ahead," Kennedy said.

Mitch Lehman, a 6'4" striker, is a graduate of The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he also excelled in lacrosse.

"One of things that we tried to do, this year, was recruit some height, because we have gone short the last couple of years and we wanted to become a threat, again, on set pieces, which are such a big part of the game," Kennedy said.

"Mitch is a fantastic athlete, who also had lacrosse scholarships, as well as soccer. I think he is a kid who can also chip in with goals, up front, for us." Lehman will study in StFX's Schwartz School of Business.

Veteran punch

Those first-year X-Men will be mixed with a group of returning players, including junior central defender Dustin Benetti (Calgary, AB).

"He will pair up with Josh Read. I think Benetti is coming into his own, I think he is ready now to become one of the top central defenders in the league," Kennedy said, describing him as "another athletic specimen."

"He is very explosive; he can run and jump, pass and tackle, so I expect a lot from Dustin."

Between the pipes, Kennedy said you could not find a better goalkeeper in the conference than junior Thomas Pieroway (Conception Bay, NL). "There is no one I would rather have," he added.

Kennedy noted Pieroway is at 90 per cent as camp gets underway, but he is expected to be "back to full health soon."

"He is the full package as a goalkeeper," he said.

Kennedy added Matt Lannan (Port Williams, NS) is "nipping at his heels."

"Matt is a goalkeeper who could probably leave StFX and go in and start anywhere in the conference, so we are really, really stacked at the goalkeeper position," he noted.

Junior midfielder Natneal Tecle (Calgary, AB) and senior midfielder Dylan Lawrence (Ottawa, ON) are also returning to the line-up.

"Two attacking players, two great dribblers, two players who don't mind taking players on one-v-one," Kennedy said, noting Lawrence has battled the injury bug during his X career.

"But, he is in as good a shape right now as I have seen him in, and I am expecting a lot from him in his senior year."

He added Tecle has been "a really versatile player."

"He was an all-star, as a rookie three years ago. Nat is creative, can score goals for us, a fun kid to watch, especially effective on the counter-attacks, so we expect a lot from him."

Midfielder Liam Elbourne (Halifax, NS), a team captain and two-time AUS all-star, is back for his senior campaign.

"I think, right now, he is in the best condition I have seen him in, and his mind set is right on the money, so I am really happy to have him hungry and ready to go," Kennedy said.

The X-Men bench boss also talked about midfielder Dan Hayfield (Exeter, UK) and defender Joe Ward (Newport, South Wales), "who contributed early in their careers."

"I am expecting lots from those two, as well," Kennedy said.

Midfielder Felix Hoppe (Calgary, AB), a fourth-year player, as Kennedy described, is "probably one of the smartest players that we have had, and a guy that's a real team guy."

"I am really happy to see him continue with the team and take on a little more of a leadership role, so I am pleased with the way that he has come into camp," he said.

Another four-year senior, defender Alex Taylor (Fall River, NS), is also back with the blue and white. "He really, really made himself a player here. I actually see Alex being very difficult to keep off the field," Kennedy said.

"I think, three years ago, we probably wouldn't have said that, so that's great."

On the pitch      

Taylor and his X-Men team-mates will open pre-season play with a trip to the United States for games against Brown University (August 25), Merrimack College (August 27) and University of Southern New Hampshire (August 29).

They wrap-up the exhibition schedule with a match versus the Cape Breton University on Sunday, Sept. 4 at StFX Stadium.

The X-Men open AUS regular season action when they host the UPEI Panthers (Saturday, Sept. 10) and the UNB Varsity Reds (Sunday, Sept. 11). Both matches are scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at StFX Stadium.