Cape Breton University to Host U SPORTS soccer National Championships in 2021 & 2023

U SPORTS championship hosts were recently announced in men’s and women’s soccer.

Cape Breton University will host the Women’s Soccer Championships in 2021 and the Men’s Soccer Championships in 2023. CBU will welcome the top eight teams in the nation for the Fall 2021 and 2023 tournaments.

“The Department of Athletics at Cape Breton University is extremely excited for the opportunity to bring two soccer National Championships to our Island and campus over the next three years,” says Long-time Athletic Director John Ryan. “Both of our programs, through the leadership of head coaches Ness Timmons and Deano Morley, with their excellent staff, have positioned our soccer programs among the best in the country. We look forward to hosting the best soccer programs in Canada here at CBU and with the work of our host committee and our local community we know we will provide an exceptional student experience for all participants during their time with us.”

This will be the second time that the CAPERS have hosted the U Sports Women’s Soccer Championships. CBU hosted and won the National Championships to sellout crowds in 2007.

Current CAPERS Women’s Soccer Head Coach Ness Timmons, who led the CAPERS to victory in the 2007 National Championship says, “We were very excited to hear the news. Winning the bid to host the U Sports Nationals gives us a chance to show the rest of the country what we have here. I know that getting the chance to host the best programs in the country on our turf will be a terrific and memorable experience for everyone involved. We are always looking for high-quality student-athletes, so whenever CAPERS soccer gets recognized it helps enhance the CBU name.”

The CAPERS women’s soccer program is a perennial contender and is coming off three-straight AUS Championships and 11th title overall (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019). They also have taken a home National Silver Medal in 2017 and a National Bronze Medal in 2018.

The CAPERS men’ program will host the 2023 Championships for the first time in school history. The CAPERS won the school’s first Men’s Soccer National Championship in 2017 in Kamloops, BC.

CBU Men’s Soccer Head Coach Deano Morley said “We are currently recruiting with intensity and intent and over the next two years we must work incredibly hard to ensure we identify and attract the very best Canadian and International student-athletes. Winning the bid to host the 2023 National Finals provides a tremendous boost to recruitment efforts.  Quality players want to compete for championships and knowing we have the chance to do that at home already has us bursting with pride and optimism. It is a great opportunity for our university, for Cape Breton Island and the AUS, and we will be ready.”

The CAPERS men’s soccer program is no stranger to the national stage, they have won a U Sports National Medal in three consecutive years. They won the gold in 2017, silver in 2018, and bronze in 2019. The men have won four-straight AUS Championships and 7 titles overall (2007, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019).

Visit the U SPORTS website for the full U SPORTS championship hosting schedule.