V-Reds leaning on vets

Miles Pinsent is hoping his fifth-year leaders can lead the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds back to the Atlantic University Sport Men's Soccer Conference final.

Only this time with a different result.

The V-Reds topped the 10-team conference with a 7-2-4 record, but lost 1-0 to the third-place Dalhousie Tigers in the final.

"We've been waiting since November for the new season to begin," Pinsent said.

No one's hungrier than Matt Lally in goal, Karel Prickett and Ashley Crook in the back and Ken Morrison in the midfield.

They want one more kick at an AUS title - Nov. 6-8 at Dal - and a berth in the CIS championships Nov. 12-15 at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C.

"They've played pivotal roles over the previous four years and now it's their final one," Pinsent said. "I know they're motivated and really want to make sure this season is a successful one."

Fourth-year striker Galen Smith is another big cog for the V-Reds, who open the regular season tonight under the lights at Chapman Field. Kick off is 7:15 p.m. against the UPEI Panthers.

The UNB women play the Panthers at 5 p.m. Both V-Reds teams travel to Sackville tomorrow to face the Mount Allison Mounties.

"When it comes to UPEI-UNB soccer games, it doesn't matter how far you go back, we've always been the biggest rivals in the league," Pinsent said. "Obviously we know each other quite well and our systems match up quite well, so it's always a close game."

Pinsent figures five teams, including his V-Reds, "could definitely win the whole thing."

"St. FX didn't make the playoffs last year, but they were one of the best teams and just ran into some injuries and personnel problems. Dal is returning champ, Saint Mary's is always tough, Cape Breton will be good. UPEI's always a tough team and Moncton is probably the most-gifted team in the league."

That's more than five contenders, though.

"Well, there you go," Pinsent said.

The Reds are banged up heading into the season, although creative winger Amir Razak looks ready to return from his second knee surgery "and he's an important part of what we're planning to do offensively," Pinsent said.

Five others remain sidelined.

They include midfielders Russell Carson, a former All-Conference player who's transferred in from Mount A, Rory Keys and Peter Tryphonopoulos, defender Denis Chenard and rookie winger J.C. Campeau, who had to have his Achilles tendon severed as part of his foot surgery.

UNB is also trying to make up for the losses of graduates Eric Karosan, Graham Ashworth, Travis Moore and rookie of the year Nagib Miguel, who didn't come back.

Karosan "is the biggest loss offensively," Pinsent said. "He was a huge threat on our left side. He was by far the best winger in the league over his last two seasons. Graham was the anchor, as the big centre back, in our defence, and Travis was the other starting winger."

Ottawa native Ben Law, who played Division 2 soccer in Holland last year, tops the recruiting class.

"He's a very talented player who's starting as one of our centre backs," Pinsent said. "He's a big addition."

Shea Nordheim was a midfielder for Manitoba's Canada Games team, striker Will Allen was with P.E.I.'s Games squad and defender Cassian Ferlatte was captain of New Brunswick's Games team.

"It's going to be vital for us to rely on our veterans for leadership," Pinsent said, "because we are a fairly young team when we look at the players on the field other than those fifth-year guys."

The V-Reds lost 3-0 to St. FX in an exhibition game here a week ago. The X-Men struck for three second-half goals.

"It was an exhibition game," Pinsent said, "but it definitely had an AUS league feel to it. It was fast and hard. We got 23 players into it, so it was a chance to expose the young guys to what the league is about and get them used to the pace."

Andy Cameron's UNB women's soccer team's first goal is to score goals. Last season, the V-Reds finished five points back of UPEI for the final playoff spot with a 1-5-7 record.

UNB only allowed 11 goals in those 13 games ... but scored just five.

"Those ties came back to haunt us," Cameron said. "We definitely needed to score more goals."

The V-Reds were also shut out 3-0 by the X-Women in exhibition play last Saturday.

"We looked good considering we'd only had five practices in," Cameron said. "We were very competitive and for that time of the training camp, there were lots of positives to take out of it."

There were still no goals to celebrate, mind you.

"But I think some of our younger players have the ability to do that," Cameron said. "We'll try to put them in at one end and keep them out at the other."

Rookie keeper Melissa Stapleton, who played for Kanata in the Ontario Youth Soccer League, will try to do her best to replace graduate Jackie Fitt-Ryan.

Cameron will be looking for offensive production from a trio of rookies: Robyn Potter, a striker with five years playing experience with the Ottawa Fury Soccer Club and N.B. Canada Games members Olivia Jennings of Bathurst and Sam Lagacy of Moncton.

Elise Arseneau, who'll be playing in the back, and back Heather Ambery, who's moving up to midfield this season, are key returnees.

"We want to be in the playoff mix," Cameron said. "The team is excited about the season. There's a good buzz going on."

The top six teams will be at Memorial in St. John's Nov. 6-8 for the AUS championship, with the winner moving on to the CIS tourney in Toronto Nov. 12-15.