CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - The Holland College Hurricanes men’s soccer team claimed its fifth straight Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) title with a narrow 2-1 victory over the St. Thomas Tommies Sunday in Halifax, N.S.
It was also the school’s eighth title since 2006.
Bobby Gamba in 17th minute and ACAA player of the year Shunya Kobayashi in the 57th minute gave the ‘Canes a 2-0 edge.
But St. Thomas’ Ryan MacKinnon closed the gap with a goal in the 73rd minute and while both team ramped up the intensity Holland College hung on for the win.
Players of the game were Harrison Ellison for the ‘Canes and MacKinnon for St. Thomas.
Holland College advances to the Canadian collegiate nationals as host. The championship goes Nov. 6-10 in Cornwall. The ‘Canes finished third at last year’s nationals.
The Hurricanes, the top-ranked team going into the tournament, reached the ACAA final with a 6-0 semifinal win over host Mount Saint Vincent, while St. Thomas beat King’s College 1-0 in the other semi. St. Thomas advances as the ACAA wild card.
Joining Holland College and St. Thomas are PACWEST conference winner, the Capilano Blues, and wild card, the Langara Falcons.
From the ACAC conference in Alberta is the NAIT Ooks, from the OCAA conference in Ontario is the winner the Humber Hawks and the wild card Sheridan Bruins, while from the RSEQ conference in Quebec is the Ahuntsic Indiens.
The nationals schedule will be released Wednesday.
On the women’s side, the third-seeded ’Canes fell 3-1 to second-seeded Mount Saint Vincent helped by two goals from Breagh Laing and single from Jessica Oliver over the first 44 minutes.
Holland College’s Nicole Fergusson cut the lead to 3-1 in the 75th minute, but that was as close as the Hurricanes could get before the final whistle blew.
Bethany MacDougall was the player of the game for the Hurricanes.
Mount Saint Vincent won the title with a 3-2 victory over St. Thomas.
