CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Shunya Kobayashi of the Holland College Hurricanes men’s soccer team was named Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) men’s player of the year Friday in Halifax.
The ‘Canes men’s and women’s team take on the best in the conference this weekend beginning with the women’s semifinal versus the Mount Saint Vincent Mystics today at 10 a.m. The men face the Mystics at 2:30 p.m.
Kobyashi, a first-year winger from Yachiyo, Japan, netted seven goals and tallied 20 points as the Hurricanes (9-2-1) were the regular season champs.
He joins Tommy Fleming (2009) and Ibra Sanoh (2014-17) as Hurricanes who won ACAA player of the year honours.
For the women, third-year winger Sabrina Molnar was announced as a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) all-Canadian. Molnar, an Ottawa native, had six goals and 18 points as the ‘Canes (8-3-1) finished in third place.
Nicole Fergusson and Molnar were named first team all-conference players, while Kathrine McEwen and Jade Stewart were selected to the second team.
On the men’s side, Bobby Gamba, Aleco Iatrou and Kobayashi were announced as first team all-conference players, while Alex Lourenso, Theo Ngezahayo and Jonah Wilton were named to the second.
In Saturday’s semis, the women renew its playoff rivalry with the Mystics, which it faced in the finals from 2012-16.
The Canes lost both games to the second-place Mystics (9-2-1) this season.
McEwen led the Hurricanes with eight goals, while keeper Hailey Terstege started all 12 games, picking up eight wins and six shutouts.
The men’s ‘Canes enter the weekend having won the last four conference titles and six in the last seven years. The squad won a national bronze medal in 2018 and is hosting the tournament this year.
The Hurricanes beat the Mystics (6-3-3) twice this season. Tegan Misener scored five times in the season. Keeper Brandon Lund started all 12 games and recorded nine wins and six shutouts.