CAPERS Women's Soccer Players Stepping up over the Summer Months
By IAIN KING
A comeback story, continuing excellence and a rookie relishing the trip of a lifetime to a top European tournament.
Head Coach Ness Timmons is delighted to hear every shred of news he gets from his CBU CAPERS Women's Soccer program players as they navigate a summer of success before the squad is scheduled to return to campus for pre-season training in August.
One of the toughest setbacks for student-athletes is serious injury and there is no more heart-warming tale this off-season than the return of gifted CAPERS midfielder Charly Mitchell from cruciate ligament damage. Charly completed a landmark full 90 minutes for Edmonton BTB in League 1 Alberta on Friday as her side tied 1-1 with Calgary Blizzard.
Coach Timmons reasons, "Charly will be like a new signing coming in off a long-term injury. She is playing League 1 Alberta which is a highly competitive level and the timing is good for us. She is getting reps in before we see her in training camp, after a good winter of training she was only released for contact in April. We feel she will now be game-ready when she comes back to Cape Breton and that's great for her."
In the same league, stand-out CAPERS midfielder Grace Hannaford is having a superb summer starring for Calgary Foothills who are top of the league. Both Charly and Grace were key figures in the new CAPERS Academy over the Fall/Winter as they helped coach the next generation of girls as superb role models.
"Grace contacted me to let me know that the Northern Super League side Calgary Wild have now created a reserve team and she has signed at that level," reveals Ness. "That's terrific for her and she is feeling really good about her play."
The CAPERS will come into Season 2025 off a season that saw them finish fourth in the U SPORTS National Championship with striker Lauren Rowe sparkling in that elite company. Lauren, another who gave back to our CAPERS soccer community as an Academy coach, has continued that form into her summer adventure with North Toronto in League 1 with six goals in nine games gaining her huge interest from higher levels of the women's game.
"She has been excellent for North Toronto. Lauren has bounced on from where she was with us in Nationals and been a credit to our program," reflects Ness.
As Coach Timmons keeps tabs on his stars, he is also delighted to see a new signing have some stellar experiences before she joins up for her first season as a CAPER. Centre-back Sarah Baker from Newfoundland is following a well-trodden path from The Rock to CBU which has also been taken by her new team-mates Morgan Harris and the aforementioned Rowe. The defensive prospect has been shining for top senior side Holy Cross at home but has also earned a ticket to another huge opportunity.
"Sarah is playing for a Montreal squad in the Gothia Cup in Sweden as a guest which will be a terrific trip and experience for her before she joins up with us," smiles Ness. "That's brilliant for a rookie to get that exposure and be tested before she comes in for her first AUS season.
"Our goal in the summer for the girls is for as many as possible to get meaningful minutes and training," shares Ness. "We tell them their fitness is their own responsibility to come back ready and I am confident that message is always absorbed."
The CAPERS Soccer home opener is at 1:00 for the women and 3:30 for the men at Ness Timmons Field. Mark it on your calendar today!
To view the full AUS soccer schdule, click here.