By Reegan MacAulay

National women’s soccer bronze medal champions and Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) women’s rugby champions. Those are just some of the headlines from this past weekend for the Holland Hurricanes, who made history across multiple sports. Here’s a full breakdown of all your recent ‘Canes action.

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer Hurricanes are national bronze medal champions.

The ‘Canes were unable to achieve both regional and national championships, but they walked away with their first-ever national medal at the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Women’s Soccer Championship in Summerside, P.E.I.

The ‘Canes began the tournament on Wednesday with a big 4-1 quarter-final win over Douglas College (British Columbia) and were set to face the Cegep Sainte-Foy Dynamiques (Quebec) in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, a dominant performance turned into a heartbreaking result with a 1-1 loss in penalty kicks.

An opportunity for a national medal was still within reach as the ‘Canes were set to face their ACAA rivals in the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils in bronze medal semi-final action. The 2023 ACAA rematch resulted in a close 1-0 win for the ‘Canes.

In a wild national bronze medal match, the ‘Canes held on to earn the medal 1-0 over the Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers (Quebec).

After the game, Keanna Ryan and Misha Koyari were named national championship all-stars on behalf of Holland and Emily Lepine was named a CCAA All-Canadian.

Congratulations to them and the rest of the Holland Hurricanes on a well-earned bronze medal. Thank you to everyone who showed their support for the ‘Canes at the championship.

Connect with the women’s soccer ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/caneswsoccer and www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer.

Women’s Rugby

The women’s rugby Hurricanes are ACAA champions for the first time in team history and have won a regional medal two years in a row.

The ‘Canes concluded a perfect season (10-0-0 combined between regular season and playoffs) on Sunday afternoon with a close 21-17 ACAA Championship win over the Mount Allison (MTA) Mounties.

After 15 minutes of no score in the first half, the ‘Canes eventually went up 5-0. 10 minutes later, the Mounties bounced back to tie the score, but the ‘Canes retook the lead 10-5 at the 31^st minute. A wild second half saw the ‘Canes maintain their lead the entire way, although the Mounties fought hard to stay close.

After the game, six players were named to the ACAA All-Conference team, including Tori Hogan, Kinslee Sorrie-Acorn, Madison Tingley, Marissa Themeles, Bella Walsh, and Annik Whiten. Head coach Craig Inward was named the ACAA Coach of the Year with Hogan also being named the ACAA Player of the Year.

Congratulations to them and the rest of the women’s rugby Hurricanes on their first ever ACAA championship!

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball Hurricanes faced winning and losing this past weekend while on another road trip.

The ‘Canes began the trip with their first game against the Mount Saint Vincent (MSVU) Mystics on Saturday, losing 109-71 due to strong middle quarters and shooting by the Mystics. Ambrose Johnson was the top scorer for Holland with 16 points.

The ‘Canes then visited University of King’s College (UKC) on Sunday and held on for a wild 84-82 win over the Blue Devils. The ‘Canes had a terrific first quarter, leading 27-15, but UKC fought back in every other quarter and fell just short. Bryce Corless was the top scorer for Holland with a dominant 33 points.

Holland is now 3-2 and currently in the third seed with six points, two behind MSVU and STU, who are tied for first. Holland continues their road trip next weekend with a game in Moncton, New Brunswick on Saturday, Nov. 18 against the Crandall University Chargers (CU), who are 1-2 and currently in the fifth seed.

Holland and Crandall have not faced each other yet. Game time is at 3 p.m.

Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes, visit www.twitter.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball Hurricanes faced a rough weekend and are now on a three-game losing streak.

The ‘Canes began their weekend road trip on Saturday with a game against the MSVU Mystics, losing 105-79. Holland began the game on a high note as the first quarter resulted in a 28-28 score, but multiple turnovers between quarters two and four solidified an MSVU victory. Lauren Armstrong was the top scorer for Holland with 22 points.

The ‘Canes then visited the UKC Blue Devils in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Sunday. In a very back and forth game where either team could’ve won, the Blue Devils prevailed 94-89. Each team swapped leads after each quarter, and although the ‘Canes led the fourth one 18-16, poor first and third quarters solidified a UKC victory. Armstrong was the top scorer for Holland again with 23 points.

Holland is now 2-3 and currently tied for the third seed with Mount Allison (four points). The ‘Canes continue their road trip next weekend with a game against Crandall University alongside the men’s basketball ‘Canes.

Holland and Crandall have not faced each other yet. Game time is at 1 p.m.

Connect with the women’s basketball Hurricanes, visit www.twitter.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Women’s Volleyball

The women’s volleyball Hurricanes continued their early-season road trip with games against Mount Allison and UKC this past weekend.

The ‘Canes visited Mount Allison on Saturday and lost 3-1. Holland started the game well but would never recover after the first set. Morgan White led Holland with eight kills.

The ‘Canes then visited UKC on Sunday and lost 3-0. Now, Holland has a 2-2 record.

The ‘Canes return to action next weekend with their 2023-24 home-opener games at the McMillan Centre against the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves on Saturday, Nov. 18 and the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus (DAL AC) Rams on Sunday, Nov. 19.

The Seawolves are 2-2 and on a two-game winning streak. The Rams are 1-3 and on a three-game losing streak.

Saturday’s game is at 4 p.m. and Sunday’s game is at 2 p.m.

Connect with the women’s volleyball ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/caneswvball and www.instagram.com/caneswvball.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.