Kennedy expects highly competitive conference season
By Corey LeBlanc
ANTIGONISH – While boasting a "strong returning core," veteran STFX X-Women head coach Graham Kennedy expects his team to be in the thick of the playoff race in a highly-competitive 2023 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) soccer season.
"We have a pretty solid starting 11, and a reasonable amount of depth," he said of his White and Blue line-up in a recent training camp interview.
Kennedy, added, if the X-Women "stay healthy" and play to their potential, they should be in the hunt for one of the six conference post-season positions.
"It is all about getting into the playoffs because there are four or five teams that are capable of winning a championship, including us," he suggested.
The X-Women finished fourth in the 2022 regular season, with an 8-3-1 record, before dropping a hard-fought 1-0 decision to the rival Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers in the conference semi-finals.
Although the X-Women lost some "key players," the Antigonish native said the program is "really happy" with the 2023 roster.
"We are starting to come together," Kennedy said, noting that the increased experience of their first and second-year student-athletes from 2022 has been integral to that ongoing process.
He added that the X-Women's pre-season performance – one that kicked off with a 1-1 tie with the Acadia Axewomen in Guysborough – reflects that optimism. On a road swing through Ontario, STFX recorded an "impressive" victory over the Ottawa GeeGees, followed by a competitive 3-2 setback to the Carleton Ravens.
When it comes to players expected to lead the way, Kennedy offered, "There isn't one person we are relying on."
Nevertheless, Kennedy noted that there are players he believes will have to step up, including fifth-year senior Amanda Smith (Ottawa, ON) – who he called "one of, if not the premier striker in our conference" – has started her swan song campaign "healthy and in great shape."
"Amanda is hungry – she wants to go out in a big way," her X-Women head coach offered of the 2022 AUS second-team all-star and All-Canadian, who finished second in conference goal scoring with nine.
A White and Blue first-team all-star from last season and second-team All-Canadian – defender Abby Steen (Stittsville, ON) – has returned for her junior campaign.
"Abby is in top form, and we are expecting a lot from her," Kennedy noted.
Midfielder Caitlin Crichton (Ottawa, ON) – the X-Women's other first-team conference all-star in 2022 – is coming off a "stellar summer season" playing in League1 Ontario.
Sophomore Aidan Miller (Chilliwack, BC) is looking to build on a freshman season where she made an immediate impact in the conference as a goal-scoring forward.
"Aidan has been playing really well," Kennedy said of her pre-season performance.
When it comes to newcomers, midfielder Cheyenne Bower (London, ON) and forward Ava Elgood (Almonte, ON), according to their new bench boss, have shown in training camp and pre-season that they are prepared to be contributors in 2023.
"We are really pleased with where they are," Kennedy offered.
Keeper Hailey Jones (Ottawa, ON) is expected to comprise a formidable one-two punch with fourth-year senior and playoff-tested Christina Gentile (Laval, QC).
"We keep the ball on the floor, while doing our best to dominate possession," Kennedy explained, when asked what fans should see on the pitch, when the X-Women are playing well.
He added that – added to combination play upfront – will be part of the formula for success versus their AUS opponents.
On the defensive side, Kennedy said, "We have a little bit of work to do."
He added, "We also have to have the discipline – as a unit – to work to get back the ball."
Getting back to the expected battle for conference supremacy this season, Kennedy offered, "Anything can happen," while pointing out there have been recent campaigns where the AUS champion has been a third to sixth seed heading into the year-end championship tournament. He noted the X-Women won their 2016 conference banner as a fourth seed.
As for title contenders, Kennedy expects the defending champion CBU Capers to be frontrunners for one of the coveted first-round byes in the post-season.
"They have an outstanding group. 'Ness' [Timmons – Caper head coach], as usual, has done an outstanding recruiting job," he said.
Kennedy added he would be "surprised" if CBU doesn't finish first or second in the 2023 regular season.
So, if his prediction holds true, he said that his X-Women should be in a battle with strong programs – such as the Axewomen and Dalhousie Tigers, who lost the 2022 championship match to the Capers 1-0 – for the other post-season bye.
"In an ideal world, we will finish a bye. That's what we are going to work for, but it is not going to be easy," Kennedy said.
The White and Blue will kick off the 2023 AUS regular season, at home, when they host the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues on Saturday, Sept. 2, and UNB Reds on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Both matches are scheduled for 1 p.m. at STFX Stadium.
The X-Women's first road challenge will come on Saturday, Sept. 9, when they face the rival Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers at Ness Timmons Soccer Field, also in a 1 p.m. kick-off.
"It is going to be a great early-season test for us," Kennedy said.
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