The Holland Hurricanes returned to the field this weekend with nine regular season games in total around the region.  Here is our full breakdown of the weekend that was.

Women’s Soccer

It was the perfect start to the season for the women’s soccer Hurricanes, hosts of the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship this November.

The ‘Canes opened their 2023 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) regular season at home on Saturday when they hosted the Crandall University Chargers at the Terry Fox Sports Complex in Cornwall.

Goals from Emily Lepine (0’, 0’, 7’, 25’, 30’), Emma MacIntyre (26’, 39’), Kina Azuma (42’), Cassandra Forsuh (44’) and Jenna Dodaro (50’) gave the ‘Canes the 10-0 victory in front of their home fans.  Allie Rutt recorded the shutout in goal for Holland College.

The action continued Sunday in Truro, Nova Scotia when the Hurricanes visited the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus (Dal AC) Rams.

The usual suspects were at it again, with Lepine (21’, 46’, 59’, 63’, 90’), MacIntyre (’39), Helena Vos (76’) and Misha Koyari (85’) scoring to give the Hurricanes the 8-0 win.  Rutt was in goal once again to claim her second straight shutout.

Sitting at 2-0 and atop the ACAA standings, the Hurricanes will look ahead to this weekend as they prepare to host a pair of home games versus the 2-0, Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics and University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils, in a battle for top-spot in the ACAA. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm each day.

Connect with the women’s soccer Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/caneswsoccer andwww.instagram.com/caneswsoccer.

Men’s Soccer

Ready to defend their ACAA title, the ‘Canes returned to the field on Saturday to take on the Crandall Chargers in Cornwall.

Goals from Mohommad Ali (2’, 27’, 57’) and Fiston Ngabonziza (62’) paced the ‘Canes to the 4-1 victory.  The lone Chargers goal was an own-goal, and it came in the 35’.

The action continued Sunday on the road when the Hurricanes took on the Dal AC Rams in Truro, Nova Scotia.

The Rams were the first to strike on Sunday when Gus MacEwen found the back of the net in the 7’.  It wasn’t until the 69’ when Vinny Boyd tied the game at 1-1.  Goals from Ruben Vijil (73’), Julien Jones (78’) and Vinny Boyd (87’) increased the gap to 4-1, giving the Hurricanes the win.  Nolan Barry was the winning goalkeeper for Holland College.

At 2-0, the ‘Canes sit atop the ACAA standings as they prepare for a pair of home matches this weekend in Cornwall.  On Saturday they will host the 0-2, MSVU Mystics, before hosting the 0-0-1, UKC Blue Devils on Sunday; both matches take place at 3:15pm at the Terry Fox Sports Complex.

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

Women’s Rugby

After an intense training camp, the women’s rugby Hurricanes were ready to star their 2023 ACAA regular season on Sunday in Charlottetown versus the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies.

The defending ACAA runners-up entered the season focused as they try to improve their finishing position by one in 2023.

On Sunday at the Co-Op Field, the ‘Canes jumped out to an early lead in the first half, up 20-0 after capitalizing on four tries.

The Tommies pushed back to start the second half, scoring and converting for seven points, however the Hurricanes answered back with four tries of their own, earning the 40-7 victory to open the season.

Scorers for the Hurricanes were Marissa Themeles, Maddy Dyer, Madison Tingley, Annik Whitten, Ella McLean and Asher Lake, each with one try, while Tori Hogan added two tries.

The Hurricanes, 1-0, will now look ahead to their first road trip of the season, this time versus the defending ACAA champions from the University of New Brunswick (UNB).  Game time is 2pm on Sunday in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Connect with the women’s rugby ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanesrugby.

Baseball

It was time for the Hurricanes to return to beautiful Memorial Field at Victoria Park in Charlottetown on Saturday as the baseball Hurricanes were set to begin their tenth season.

The Hurricanes welcomed the Acadia University Axemen to town as both teams were set to begin their 2023 Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association (ACBA) seasons.

Game one of the double-header started with a bang, before setting into a defensive masterclass, as the Hurricanes scored two in the opening inning; the only runs that would be scored all game.

Both pitchers, Ethan Smith for the Hurricanes, and Ben Cairns for the Axemen, went the distance.  Smith allowed just four hits, a walk and struck out seven in his seven innings of work to earn the win; at the plate, he led the way with two RBI’s as well.

In game two, the Axemen went up by a score of 3-2 through the first two, before extending the lead to 7-2 when they scored two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings.  This is how the game would end.

Smith once again led the way offensively for the ‘Canes with two RBI’s in the game.

On the road on Sunday in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, the Hurricanes were set to take on the St. Francix Xavier (St. FX) X-Men.

In game one, the ‘Canes bats exploded, cruising to a 16-2 victory, before another offensive matchup in game two, this time with things going the wrong way for the ‘Canes, as they fell to St. FX, 20-3.

The Hurricanes, 2-2, will return to action this weekend for four more key ACBA regular season matchups.  On Saturday in Charlottetown, they’ll host the UNB Reds, before visiting Acadia on Sunday in Nova Scotia; double-headers begin at 1pm each day.

Connect with the baseball Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/hcanesbaseball and www.instagram.com/hollandcanesbaseball.

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

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