Hurricanes End Tommies' Undefeated Streak, Win ACAA Championship

Fredericton, NB - The Holland College Hurricanes executed off a rare mistake from the St. Thomas University goal keeper Luke Ewen (Milton, ON) - a miscommunication led to a Keisuke Masuda to an open net. The Hurricanes had a 2-1 lead in extra time with Masuda's goal coming in the sixth minute of extra time. Eight minutes later in the 14th minute, Gray Cyr (Ottawa, ON) was given his second yellow card of the match, disqualifying him and putting the Tommies a man short. And for the first time all season, Holland had done what no one else had - they had the Tommies on the ropes.

But there was no quit from the exhausted Tommies. In minute 15 of extra time, it seemed as if the dream season was still alive. A corner kick led to an Elias Stiphout header, tying the match at two. STU had life, as they were able to get through the second half of extra time to force penalty kicks.

It wasn't their first miracle of the game, though. Earlier, in the 82nd minute, Ewen faced the ACAA Player of the Year Mohammed Alhaj Ali one-on-one after Alhaj Ali had broke free for a breakaway. Ewen made a sliding tackle to rob Alhaj Ali of his second goal of the game in what could have been the game winner.

But the save didn't prevent the Hurricanes from celebrating on the Grant-Harvey Turf Field - Ewen was beat 4/5 times compared to the Tommies only going 3/4 in the penalty kicks, as Yannick MacPhee of the Hurricanes netted the final shot. The Hurricanes had ended the Tommies undefeated streak, claiming the ACAA Championship a year after losing to the Tommies in the finals. 

It marks their eighth championship since 2011.

Hurricanes head coach Jonathan Vos couldn't have been prouder of his squad.

"It's just amazing," he said. "I'm just so proud of them."

The Hurricanes had gone to extra time in their semi-final match the previous day against the University of King's College Blue Devils as well.

Vos said he didn't have to tell his team much prior to kick off. Holland was locked in.

"When I walked into the locker room, you could just feel the energy and the focus," Vos said. "It was just a few short words to make sure they we were in this together and to battle for each other."

It wasn't just the Tommies that were on the ropes this match. Brett Springer (Bamberg, ON) has struck early to put the Tommies in front. STU had forced a turnover close to the net and fed Springer the ball, as Springer netted the first of the match. The Tommies carried the 1-0 lead into the half.

The Hurricanes didn't get on the board until the 50th minute, as Alhaj Ali had beat Ewen to even things up. 

Alhaj Ali and his team pressured the rest of the half, seeing opportunities being stopped. He credited his teammates for being able to battle through and take the win.

"My teammates are unbelievable; I just want to say a big thank you to my teammates and coaches," Alhaj Ali said.

After losing to the Tommies in the finals the previous year in penalty kicks, he said Ewen knew him well, so he aimed for the left instead of his right. 

"He got a touch on it but it was a powerful kick."

The ACAA Player of the Year and his Hurricanes will make their way to British Columbia to compete in the CCAA Nationals from Nov. 9-12.