With 14 teams competing this fall, there was rarely a break in the Tigers action. Some seasons have already ended鈥攕uch as cross country and soccer鈥攚hile others have only just begun, like track & field. But with the term finishing up, it鈥檚 a good moment to highlight a few special team and individual accomplishments from this fall. These outstanding efforts deserve one more round of applause.
Women鈥檚 soccer crowned AUS champions鈥�
After a 10-year wait the women鈥檚 soccer team is once again able to raise the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) championship banner. Despite the fact that this season鈥檚 squad featured 13 new faces, the team came together quickly to be a competitive force in league play. Dal finished the regular season in third place and then won three hard-fought battles against UNB (2-0), SMU (3-2) and finally UPEI (2-0) for the 2011 AUS title. Defender Kristy MacGregor-Bales, netminder Taryn McKenna, and midfielders Rieka Santilli and Joanna Blodgett were all named AUS all-stars for their incredible performances on the field.
Women鈥檚 cross country takes 19th AUS title
鈥‵or the second year in a row the women鈥檚 cross country team was able to best league rivals StFX to earn the AUS title. Holly Van Gestel led the way for the Tigers with a first-place finish and was closely followed by teammates Ashley Ryer, Ashley Chisholm, Cara Groves and Ellen Chappell who all placed in the top 10. At the awards banquet Ms. Van Gestel was named the AUS Athlete of the Year, Ms. Chappell earned distinction as the AUS Rookie of the Year, Ms. Ryer received the AUS Community Service Award and head coach Heather Hennigar was honoured as the AUS Coach of the Year.
Close calls for championship titles
鈥˙oth the men鈥檚 cross country and men鈥檚 soccer teams came tantalizingly close to AUS championship titles this fall. The cross country team fell short with a second place finish and the soccer team lost a nail-biting semifinal game 2-1 to UPEI. Both teams will return the majority of their players in 2012 with excellent chances at another run for their respective AUS titles. AUS all-star Matthew McNeil led the cross country team with a third place finish On the soccer team keeper Ben Ur, midfielder Bezick Evraire and defender Wes Hawley were named AUS all-stars and Ontario native Mr. Evraire was also named the AUS Rookie of the Year.
Swimming鈥檚 CIS qualifiers鈥�
The AV俱乐部 swim teams have had an incredible start to their season and to date have already qualified a record number of swimmers for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships set to take place in Montreal next February. Hats off to the following 17 qualifiers from the women鈥檚 team: Megan Bernier, Michelle Campbell, Emma Corriveau, 笔补颈驳别听颁谤辞飞别濒濒, 闯耻濒颈补听骋辞飞, Alison Grant, 搁丑别补听贬耻谤苍颈办, Mary Claire Lynch, Ceilidh MacPherson, 碍别颈蝉丑颈补听惭颈濒濒蝉, Audrey Prayal-Brown, 骋别尘尘补听搁别驳补苍, 搁补肠丑别濒听厂丑颈苍, 碍补迟别听奥别产蝉迟别谤, Molly Wedge, 尝别补苍苍别听奥颈别蝉别, and聽贰尘颈濒测听奥辞辞诲. On the men鈥檚 side 11 athletes have qualified for the national contest including 厂颈尘辞苍听叠辞颈濒补谤诲, 叠谤测补苍听贵耻尘别谤迟辞苍, 搁辞产颈苍听骋谤补苍迟, 碍颈迟听惭辞谤补苍, 惭补迟迟听笔颈驳驳辞迟迟, 颁丑谤颈蝉听搁别颈迟丑, David Sharpe, 颁补尘别谤辞苍听厂丑颈苍, 顿尘颈迟谤测听厂丑耻濒驳补, 闯辞别听鲍谤 and Kyle Watson. AV俱乐部 will host the AUS championships at Dalplex from February 10-12.
Daniel You named one of the CIS Top 8
鈥ˋV俱乐部 is well-known for its outstanding academics, and volleyball athlete Daniel You knows a thing or two about performance in the classroom. Last year Mr. You achieved a perfect 4.3 GPA in the science program and earned national recognition as a CIS Desjardins Top 8 Academic All-Canadian. This means that the had the highest GPA among all male athletes in the AUS and earned distinction as one of the top eight student-athletes in Canada. A three time Academic All-Canadian, Mr. You is in his fourth year and hails from Calgary, Alta. Read more about Daniel You's accomplishments in this Dal News profile.
Jocelyn LeBlanc becomes women鈥檚 hockey career points leader
鈥‵ifth-year forward and assistant captain Jocelyn LeBlanc became the new women鈥檚 hockey AV俱乐部 career points record holder on October 23. The Moncton, N.B. native currently holds the record with 134 points from 77 goals and 57 assists in 95 games. She'll be looking to increase her record as 13 games remain this season. Previously the record was held by Newmarket, Ont. native Kim Carcary (2004-09) at 122 points.
If you are interested in catching any of the Tigers in action make sure to check out the schedule at for news on upcoming home games in the new year.