Soccer X-Men ready to defend AUS crown

Despite having to deal with early injuries to key contributors coming off competitive seasons with their summer club teams, Graham Kennedy – head coach of the StFX X-Men – said

Despite having to deal with early injuries to key contributors coming off competitive seasons with their summer club teams, Graham Kennedy – head coach of the StFX X-Men – said his soccer program had a "pretty decent camp," including performances from newcomers who have "shown really well."

"We still have five players on the training table," he explained, just a couple of days before the White and Blue welcomed the rival Cape Breton University Capers to STFX Stadium for a season-opening clash.

He added, "When they get back, we will be in a better position."

When they return to full strength, Kennedy explained, the X-Men will be anchored by a "very strong" back line that features "a lot of depth," along with a dynamic midfield that includes juniors Isaac VanWychen (Middle Musquodoboit, NS) and Nico Goldsztein (Winnipeg, MB), along with senior Noah MacIntyre (Georgetown, ON), who Kennedy noted have "really developed into nice players."

Although they have "lost some talent" from last season's AUS championship roster, the Antigonish native pointed out that the White and Blue will have "one of the most experienced teams in the AUS." The group of fourth- and fifth-year student-athletes – 12 of them – includes scoring threats and playmakers, such as Logan Rieck (Cambridge, ON), Samuel Barrowcliffe (Princeton, ON) and 2024 AUS most valuable player Kyle Cordeiro (Oakville, ON).

The list of returnees also includes forward Luka Robichaud Allah (Moncton, NB), who Kennedy pointed out has been "very good" in the lead-up to the regular season, while junior forward Myroslav Zastavnyy (Toronto, ON) has enjoyed "an excellent training camp."

'Big' recruiting class

When it comes to the new faces who will be donning White and Blue, Kennedy noted the list of newcomers features a Maritime flavour, with multiple student-athletes checking in from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Topping that list are Bluenosers Tapi Chipudhla (Bedford, NS), a defender, along with midfielder Ellis Sanford (Avonport, NS) – a recruit from the Halifax Wanderers U23 program – who Kennedy described as a "really nice player." The program has also welcomed forward forward Pádraig Gallagher (Halifax, NS).

"They are attacking players - really athletic and solid all-around footballers," the X-Men head coach said of forward Aloysius Adima-Ulor (Fredericton, NB) and midfielder John Kandinda (Moncton, NB).

Kennedy added that "plenty of talent" has arrived from central Canada, including forward Christian Lamb (Ottawa, ON), midfielder Gaby Menendez-Garcia (Pickering, ON), forward Evan John (Ripley, ON) and defender Bryce Bosse (Ottawa, ON).

When it comes to international flavour, midfielder Kevin Thomson (Discovery Bay, Hong Kong) also has deep local ties; his father, Craig, a pilot, is a native of Antigonish County. Defender Sebastian Madeiros (Hamilton, BM), via Bermuda, will also don the White and Blue.

Cormac Mallet (Victoria, BC), a defender, heads to the East Coast, after playing for former X-Men forward Jamar Dixon.

"It is a big recruiting class," Kennedy said, explaining that taking that step also focuses on next season, when the White and Blue program is likely to bid farewell to 12 student-athletes.

'Not easy' to repeat

Considering the skills of the line-up that will suit up in the White and Blue for 2025, Kennedy offered, "We will not only be hard to score against, but also able to score."

He added, "And, we will be a team capable of winning tight games," while describing that attribute as a "nice feeling for any coach."

Noting that the X-Men have "an excellent chance to repeat," Kennedy noted that there will be plenty of contenders trying to wrestle away their AUS crown, including quality veteran sides – such as UNB, Dalhousie and CBU – not to mention programs such as "much, much improved" UPEI, who STFX battled in pre-season action.

Describing attempting to repeat as "not easy," Kennedy explained elements such as staying healthy and having "a little bit of luck" are keys to fulfilling that challenging goal.

And, he added, "You have to be peaking at the right time."

STFX is set to host the 2025 AUS Men's Soccer Championship at STFX Stadium, earning that right with the confernce win last season. The six-team championship will take place October 23-26, with more details including the tournament schedule and ticket link available by CLICKING HERE.

The road to a potential X-Men repeat will begin in the aforementioned tilt with the Capers on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. The White and Blue will wrap up an opening weekend on home turf versus the Dalhousie Tigers on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 3:30 p.m.

For everything X-Men soccer throughout the season, visit www.goxgo.ca.