The Panthers are hungry.
After missing the playoffs for the first time in 15 years last season, the UPEI men’s soccer team returns to the Atlantic University Sport men’s soccer championship in Sydney, N.S., this weekend with something to prove.
The club finished in second place this season with a record of 7-2-4, giving them a bye to today’s semifinals.
“A second place finish is great, but the job is far from done,” UPEI captain Adam Lowther said this week. “Our goal is to win an AUS title.”
The 19-year-old said his club learned many valuable lessons last season, when the team went 4-8-1.
“It only motivated our team to get back to the level that we are capable of and to push for the best finish possible.
The Panthers will play fourth-place Dalhousie Tigers today at 3 p.m.
The Saint Mary’s Huskies and the first-place Cape Breton Capers, who are the tournament hosts, will play in the other semifinal game at 12 p.m.
In Friday’s quarter-finals, Saint Mary’s edged St. F.X. 1-0 on penalty kicks and Dalhousie blanked the Moncton Blue Eagles 3-0.
Lowther said the message is simple for the Panthers.
“We are a team with extreme heart,” he said. “We realize that there are not many things you can control in an AUS playoff game, but one thing you can control is how hard you work and how bad you want it. The team that wants it more and can stay calm and cool under pressure will have the best result.”
Fifth-year defender Colby O’Donnell agreed.
“We are going to need composure, hard work, and to just be ourselves,” he told The Guardian. “We will give our opposition the respect they deserve, but we will stop at nothing to get to the top.”
The 25-year-old said he draws on his previous experiences from both AUS and Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association tournaments to ready the team.
“I prepare for games differently now,” he said. “I used to get all wired up and try to bring out the fire in other players, but (now) I realize that the best possible way to have your team ready is to focus on yourself and not the others. If you are mentally prepared for the task at hand, then things tend to fall into place.
“Generally what I tell the boys (is) think about what you need to do out there and just do it,” he said. “Play hard every minute. Take it to them in the first five minutes boys.”
This year’s varsity squad is very motivated and deeply talented, said the sociology honours student.
“Not making the playoffs last year was a wake-up call to all of us,” he said. “We took that loss and turned it into motivation to train hard in the summer and be physically fit for the fall season. It is such a short season and if you don’t come in fit, then you are already behind.”
Lowther said the Panthers are known for their hard work, determination and positive attitude, and will need to be at their best in today’s semifinal game.
“Any team can beat any team in the AUS during the playoffs,” said the third-year business student. “It is the team that wants it the most that will come out on top. That is the great thing about playoffs.”
The championship game is Sunday at 1 p.m.
The winner will advance to the CIS championship at the University of Victoria, Nov. 10 to 13. The Panthers last won the AUS title in 2003.
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Atlantic University Sport men’s soccer championship in Sydney, N.S. (seedings in brackets):
Friday
Quarter-Finals
Saint Mary’s (6th) 1 St. F.X (3rd) 0 (penalty kicks)
Dalhousie (4th) 3 Moncton (5th) 0
Today
Semifinals
Cape Breton (1st) vs. Saint Mary’s, 12 p.m.
UPEI (2nd) vs. Dalhousie, 3 p.m.
Sunday
Championship Game
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
The AUS champion advances to the CIS championship tournament, Nov. 10-13, at the University of Victoria.
