Cape Breton University Capers to Retire Jersey of Soccer Sensation Ciera Disipio

This Saturday, the Cape Breton University Capers will retire the #8 jersey worn by soccer legend, Ciera Disipio, celebrating her remarkable athletic and academic achievements as a Caper. The ceremony will take place at 12:30pm on Saturday, September 9, at the Ness Timmons Soccer Field during Orange Out Day, where the Capers will take on StFX at 1:00 and 3:15pm. 

Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Ciera joined the Capers in 2015 to pursue a Bachelor of Arts Community Studies while quickly making a name for herself as a standout on the pitch. Clinching the AUS Rookie of the Year title in her debut season, Ciera showed no signs of slowing down as she secured back-to-back-to-back AUS MVP awards, becoming the only AUS Women’s Soccer student-athlete to win three times, along with 1st-Team U Sport All-Canadian titles for three consecutive years. 

Ciera was a standout in the classroom as well as on the pitch, where she excelled as a Dean’s List student and a 5 time Academic All-Canadian, demonstrating her commitment to excellence both in her studies and athletic pursuits. She was also recognized as a two-time recipient of the Top 8 Academic All-Canadian Award presented annually by the Governor General of Canada. In the community, Ciera was involved with organizations such as Fanatics in Training, Youth in Motion and Shoot for the Cure among others. Her passion for soccer extended to the next generation as she volunteered as a coach for both Soccer Cape Breton Under 17 and the Ottawa Fury Minis Program in her hometown. 

“Ciera is a true inspiration both on and off the field, and we are incredibly proud to retire her jersey this weekend,” says John Ryan, Director of Athletics and Recreation at CBU. “Her legacy will last a lifetime and she will continue to inspire future Capers for generations to come.” 

During her five years as a Caper, Ciera was part of four AUS Championship teams and secured U Sport Silver and Bronze medals wearing orange. Her leadership qualities on the pitch, in the classroom and in the community made her an invaluable member of the Capers family, earning her the admiration of many soccer fans around the country. 

This marks the fourth time a jersey has been retired in Capers women’s soccer history, having Ciera join her fellow greats, Sarah Drake, Dr. Karolyn Blain and Hanna Abbenheimer. The community is invited to join in this special celebration to honour not only Ciera’s impressive soccer career, but to recognize her as a true ambassador of student-athlete excellence. 

The retirement ceremony will take place at the Ness Timmons Soccer Field at 12:30pm on Saturday, prior to the games between the Capers and StFX at 1:00pm and 3:15pm. Tickets are $10 for community members, and free for CBU students. 

To learn more, visit cbu.ca/events