2022-23 ACAA Soccer Championships

With the ACAA Soccer Championships this weekend October 29th and 30th at St. Thomas University, on the women’s side the regular season favorites Mount St. Vincent Mystics have everyone coming for them and what many believe should be their spot in Quebec in just over a week’s time.

2022-23 Women’s Soccer Standings

	GP	W	L	T	Streak	GF	GA	PTS
MSVU	12	7	0	5	Tied 3	22	4	26
UNBSJ	12	7	1	4	Tied 2	15	6	25
Holland	12	7	2	3	Won 2	21	9	24
STU	12	5	6	1	Tied 1	19	15	16
UKC	12	4	5	3	Tied 1	18	10	15
Crandall	12	4	8	0	Lost 2	15	29	12
DAL AC	12	0	12	0	Lost 12	9	46	0

It was a very tight race at the top this season.

The Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics (7-0-5) finished at the top of the ACAA standings along with a league leading 22 goals. MSVU also only allowed four goals, the least in the ACAA.  University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves (7-1-4) finished second behind the Mysicts by one point and the Holland Hurricanes for their part, completed the regular season at 7-2-3 and in third place in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) standings.  The ‘Canes finished just two-points back of the number one seed.  The St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies finish fourth at 5-6-1; the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils missed the playoffs by a single point, with the Crandall Chargers missing out by four-points.

The top-four finishers will travel to Fredericton, New Brunswick this weekend for the 2022 ACAA Soccer Championships.  The Hurricanes will challenge the Seawolves on Saturday in semi-final action, while the Mystics and Tommies will square off in the other semi-final.

The Hurricanes and Seawolves played each other tough through the regular season, with the ‘Canes earning the 1-0 season opening win on September 10 before a scoreless draw on October 1st. It was a season of improvement for the St. Thomas Tommies – major improvement. After a 2021-22 season which only saw them score twice all season, the Tommies brought in key pieces to improve their offensive game with 19 goals, third most in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association. This was good enough to give STU a 5-6-1 record, narrowly qualifying for the ACAA Championships in Fredericton. Their 16 points was one more then the University of King’s College Blue Devils and will set them a date with the top seeded Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics. In the two matchups between the Mystics and the Tommies, the Mystics won1-0 and the second game was a 1-1 draw. 

2022-23 Men’s Soccer Standings

	GP	W	L	T	Streak	GF	GA	PTS
STU	12	10	0	2	Tied 1	31	2	32
Holland	12	6	3	3	Lost 1	31	15	21
UKC	12	6	4	2	Won 1	24	15	20
MSVU	12	5	3	4	Tied 1	19	21	19
DAL AC	12	4	6	2	Won 2	16	20	14
UNBSJ	12	3	9	0	Lost 5	14	30	9
Crandall	12	1	10	1	Lost 1	7	39	4

On the Men’s side it is a different story for the Tommies, the playoff positions are reversed for the Tommies (1) and the Mystics (4).

The Tommies came into the season with no shortage of expectations this season. After an undefeated 10-0-2 2021-22 season which saw them win their second Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association championship – their first since the 2000-01 season, head coach John-Ryan Morrison knew it was going to be a harder challenge to repeat as ACAA champions.

The Tommies were plagued with injuries to start their year, having as many as nine players hurt at one time, giving Morrison the most difficult time he’s had assessing his team in training camp. But he remained confident in his squad – and he was right to do so.

The Tommies matched their previous record, this time only conceding two goals, three less than last year. Morrison credits his entire backline for their defensive work. The hard times this season should have them fair well against the Mystics 5-3-4. The Tommies won one (3-0) and tied (1-1) the other.

For their part, the Holland Hurricanes The 6-3-3, finish second in the ACAA standings and will face the UKC Blue Devils 6-4-2 on Saturday. For their part, the ‘Canes won the first game between the two teams (2-0) and tied the second one (1-1).

Should be a great weekend off soccer on both sides. The games will all be played  at the Grant-Harvey Turf Field.   

2022-23 ACAA Soccer Championships

Dates: October 29-30, 2022

Host: St. Thomas University

Site: Grant-Harvey Turf Field, Fredericton, NB.

Championship Schedule

Friday October 28

Practice times available for qualifying ACAA teams
6:30pm – Championship Banquet (Participants only)
8:30pm – Coaches Technical Meeting (Coaches and host committee)

Saturday October 2910:00am – Women’s Semi-Final 1 – MSVU Mystics (1) vs STU Tommies (4)
12:15pm – Women’s Semi-Final 2 – UNBSJ Seawolves (2) vs Holland Hurricanes (3)
2:45pm – Men’s Semi-Final 1 – STU Tommies (1) vs MSVU Mystics (4)
5:00pm – Men’s Semi-Final 2 – Holland Hurricanes (2) vs UKC Blue Devils (3)

Sunday October 30
12:00pm – Women’s Final – TBD vs TBD
2:30pm – Men’s Final – TBD vs TBD

Fans and Family Hotel Arrangements

Fans and Family can book their hotel rooms at the Comfort Inn Fredericton (797 Prospect Street) – ask for ACAA Soccer rate or click http://www.comfortinn.com/CN241?srp=LFAN

Tournament Passes and Tickets 

Single Game Tickets and Tournament Passes will only be on sale on walk-up basis.

Adult Tournament Pass $20
Student Tournament Pass $10

Adult Single Game Pass $10
Student Single Game Pass $5

All St. Thomas students get in FREE with their valid STU student ID.

*2022-23 STU All-Sport and STU Soccer Season Passes are not valid for ACAA Soccer Championships

Sources: https://www.gotommies.ca/sports/wsoc/2022-23/releases/ACAA_Women-s_Playoff_Preview

https://hollandcollege.com/athletics%20news/2019/regular-seasons-complete-for-the-fall-bring-on-the-playoffs.html

https://www.acaa.ca/sports/wsoc/2022-23/standings

https://www.acaa.ca/sports/msoc/2022-23/standings

https://www.gotommies.ca/sports/msoc/2022-23/releases/ACAA_Champ_Preview