by Duncan Forbes

Morale was sky-high for the Tigers heading into the season. The team featured a veteran-laden squad that looked poised to make a run at the AUS championship. Led by 2013 CIS second team All-Canadian Bezick Evraire, the team looked to build on 2013’s AUS semifinal finish.

In their first game of the season, the Tigers hosted the Mount Allison Mounties. Just 20 minutes into the game, fifth-year striker Tyler Lewars went down with an elbow injury that had him wreathing in pain, as he was forced to be taken off Wickwire in a stretcher. The Tigers rallied around their injured star, and Zach Mbolekwa scored just four minutes later as they came away with a 3-0 win to open the season.

Lewars’ injury, which somehow only kept him out of two games, was one of many injuries that the Tigers suffered to key players in 2014. Mark Hagen, Zack Mbolekwa and Jacob DeCosta all missed time for the Tigers this season.

“Unfortunately through some untimely injuries, we under-performed when we really needed to be at the top of our game,” says head coach Pat Nearing. “The league is very tight and competitive and one slip can cost you a couple places in the standings.”

It was obvious the effect that injuries had on the squad this year. The Tigers continued to struggle with consistency, as they failed to win consecutive games all season. Despite outplaying their opponents for the majority of many games, opponents often capitalized on temporary lapses of focus on the Tigers behalf.

After opening October with a commanding 3-1 win over Moncton, the Tigers went on a three-game winless streak which saw them score just one goal. They headed into the final weekend facing must-win games at home against StFX and Memorial.

The Tigers came out flying against the X-Men, dominating possession and outshooting StFX, but the X-Men scored in the 28th minute to give them a 1-0 lead. Bezick Evraire put five shots on goal in the game, but they simply couldn’t beat the X-Men keeper as they fell 1-0 and were eliminated from playoff contention.

“Soccer is a cruel game sometimes. Winning that game would have elevated us into 3rd place in the league,” says Nearing.

They took on Memorial the next day, and they all rallied to put together a strong 3-1 performance to end their season on a high note. Will Wright scored just five minutes into the game, and Lewars and Evraire added one of their own as the Tigers went out strong.

Evraire was selected as an AUS first team all-star after he was third in the AUS in scoring with a career-high eight goals. Second-year defender Jonathan Doucett was named to the second team after he helped anchor the Tigers back line. He started in all 13 games this season.

Only two players, brothers Ryan and Tyler Lewars, will not return for the Tigers next season. Coach Pat Nearing says that although the brothers are difficult to replace, many quality transfers and recruits will come together to form a great squad in 2015.