Dalhousie Tigers men’s soccer head coach Pat Nearing is pleased to announce the commitment of Ben Bruce and Luke Berryman for the 2020-21 season.

Ben Bruce is a centre midfielder from Cole Harbour, N.S. A co-captain of the United Dartmouth Football Club Nova Scotia Soccer League U17AAA championship-winning team, Bruce is also captain of the Auburn Drive High School men’s soccer team. He is also a five-year member of the Nova Scotia provincial team.

The 2018 Auburn Drive High School Men’s Soccer Team Most Valuable Player and the 2017 Rookie of the Year, Bruce was one of the recipients of the 2018-19 Lieutenant Governor Respectful Student Award.

“I am excited to continue my soccer career at Dalhousie University,” says Bruce. “I chose Dal because I wanted a school that provided me with not only with the best education, but also a place where I could continue to play the sport that I love.”

While attending Dalhousie, Bruce will be studying kinesiology.

“Ben is a versatile midfield player with lots of high-level experience in the Nova Scotia provincial team program,” says Nearing. “With his athleticism and soccer IQ it is expected that Ben will have an immediate impact in the AUS.”

Luke Berryman is an attacking midfielder from Halifax, N.S. This past fall, Berryman was named captain of the Citadel High School soccer team and led them to a provincial championship. A member of the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy Centre from 2015 to 2018, he was also named to the Nova Scotia provincial team in 2019.

“I am really excited to represent such a great school in my own city,” says Berryman. “I can’t wait to get started with the team.”

Berryman hopes to pursue a Bachelor of Science while at Dalhousie.

“Luke is a skilled attacking player with pace and finishing,” says Nearing. “He led his team to the Nova Scotia High School championship this year and has lots of high-level experience with the NS provincial program. Luke will be able to compete at the AUS level immediately and is expected to contribute to the team in the upcoming AUS soccer season.”

The Tigers season ended in an extra-time loss to SMU in the AUS quarter-finals this year.