Tommies and Seawolves: A Thanksgiving tradition steeped in physicality and skill
Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone. For the St. Thomas University (STU) men's and women's soccer teams, there is no better way to welcome the holiday than with a pair of matchups against the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves.
STU and UNBSJ played a home-and-home series leading up to Thanksgiving weekend.
The first game of the home-and-home series is usually hosted in Fredericton, followed by a match the next night in Saint John. This time around, roles were switched.
Fans were treated to four showstopping games between teams that are sitting toward the top of the Atlantic Collegiate Athletics Association standings.
Day one of the series took place in Saint John. STU's women's team defeated the Seawolves 1-0. Fourth-year midfielder Delaney Hancock gave the team the lead midway through the second half. STU handed the Seawolves their first loss of the season.
The squad carried their momentum into Friday's game at home. STU scored four unanswered goals through the first 50 minutes, including a brace from Erika Swinamer.
STU came out of the weekend with a place in the playoffs locked down.
On the men's side, STU was on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. Striker Ahmed Hafez provided the lone goal for the squad. Friday's game was much closer. The Seawolves went up 2-0 in the first half. However, STU brought the big guns out for the second stanza.
Farel Kengne came into the game at halftime and provided an immediate impact. He scored a brace, tying the game at two apiece. Goalkeeper Kieran Behan stood tall, making eight saves to keep the game close.
STU drew 2-2 with their interprovincial rivals to collect a single point. If his team cleans some things up, Kengne feels STU will have "no problem" beating them in the future.
"As a sub, you [are] usually brought in to be impactful and change the game ... so, in my head [I say], 'okay, we have to capitalize and be sharp because we only have 45 minutes left to be able to win the game,’" said Kengne.
Thanksgiving weekend was the first time STU played UNBSJ in the regular season since the Seawolves defeated the Tommies to knock them out of the playoffs last season.
Although Kengne feels the team does not have a different mindset or changes their preparation when facing the Seawolves, he feels the games are much more physical than with any other team in the ACAA.
Still, Kengne sees the rivalry as two teams "trying to get to the top of the table."
"We're all trying to work together to get a win as a team. Usually, we're both at the top of the table, so we're not going to say we like each other because we both want to win and be above the other team. So, it's always a tough game," he said.
Caitlyn Steeves is a defensive midfielder for the Tommies. She has been part of the rivalry for the past four seasons. Steeves is a native of Hampton, a city in the greater Saint John region.
She called the rivalry "exciting," something that means a little bit more to play every year. She has also played with some of the players on the Saint John side of the field.
At the same time, Steeves believed it was nice to taste victory in both matches and prepare for the playoffs. Saint John will host the ACAA playoffs at the end of October.
If the teams play again, it will mean a lot to her.
"I think it helps us in knowing the field, the atmosphere is definitely different than every other field," she said. "So, it's nice that we can play and test the waters, especially for the girls that haven't played in Saint John before."
Steeves echoed much of the same sentiments as Kengne. Like the men's side, games between STU and UNBSJ on the women's docket are physical and close.
As a result, the team uses their practices leading up to the games to prepare for and mimic Saint John's style of play.
This year's matches featured much of the same physicality. However, it came with an extra incentive. Both teams came into the games undefeated with six straight wins.
"They're definitely our number one rival. I'd say we are for them too. So usually there's more importance I find placed on the games," said Steeves. "If we play Saint John in the playoffs, that'll definitely add to the rivalry.”
Comments