Article contentThe Capers’ championship also marks the program’s conference-leading 14th league title, all of which have been guided by head coach Stephen (Ness) Timmons.Article content“This year more than ever we felt that it was a total team effort,” said Timmons. “All the way down the line, we had to battle all year. We didn’t have those marquee strikers up front, so we had to score by committee.Article content“If you look today, our first goal was scored by our backup goalkeeper and Friday’s goals were scored by a player who had her first two goals of her career, so it was a total team effort and they really felt that as a unit.”Article contentCape Breton took a 1-0 lead into halftime with Tara Isama finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute.Article contentMemorial responded early in the second half with Hannah Fudge tying the match 1-1 in the 46th minute. The Sea-Hawks had an opportunity to take the lead shortly after with a shot from Ellie Power ringing off the crossbar and post, which eventually led to the Capers’ Allaby securing the victory later in the half.Article contentArticle contentCape Breton’s Ellie Lancaster made three saves. Memorial’s Claude stopped six of eight shots.Article content Leah Disipio of the Cape Breton Capers, left, jumps into the arms of goalkeeper Ellie Lancaster as teammate Sarah Baker, right, joins after the team captured the Atlantic University Sport Women’s Soccer Championship at Ness Timmons Field in Sydney on Sunday. Cape Breton won the game 2-1 and will now play in the national tournament next month in Hamilton, Ont. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Jeremy FraserArticle contentThe Capers’ Audrey Roy was named the playoff most valuable player.Article contentDuring the regular season, Cape Breton and Memorial met twice, both games being played in St. John’s, N.L., in September. The teams split the season series 1-1 with the Sea-Hawks handing the Capers a 3-0 loss on Sept. 20.Article contentTimmons recognized the loss as a real turning point in the club’s season.Article content“I think we tried to use that loss as a learning experience,” said Timmons.Article content“They took it to us over there, they have fabulous forwards up front and are well-coached. We did a lot of soul searching and we turned things around the next day and beat them 1-0, but we felt it was the turning point.”Article content Members of the Cape Breton Capers celebrate the program’s 14th Atlantic University Sport women’s soccer championship title at Ness Timmons Field in Sydney on Sunday. Cape Breton edged the Memorial Sea-Hawks 2-1 in the championship game. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Jeremy FraserArticle contentAllaby believes the Capers victory was a statement win.Article content“Everyone at the beginning of the season counted us out,” said Allaby.Article contentArticle content“We lost huge parts of our team with Alliyah Rowe, Lauren Rowe and Ally Wilton, so everyone was underrating us. I think it’s the most special because it’s the first year that we really had to play as a team and there’s been no relying on anyone for any one source of goal scoring, so it’s really been nice to come together as a team, work together and get the win.”Article contentCape Breton, who last won the national title in 2007 in New Waterford, will represent the AUS at the U Sports Women’s Soccer Championship, Nov. 6-9, at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.Article contentTimmons said his club will need to continue to score by committee to have success at the national level.Article content“Our scoring was spread out everywhere this year, and we never knew where it was going to come from,” he said. “I think they felt that. This was a championship where we really felt that it was a total team effort.”
‘It was a total team effort’: Cape Breton Capers use second-half goal to claim AUS womens soccer championship on home field
