Rebooted: Tommies Look to Pull off Upset

It was a season of improvement for the St. Thomas Tommies - major improvement. After a 2021-22 season which only saw them score twice all season, the Tommies brought in key pieces to improve their offensive game with 19 goals, third most in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association. This was good enough to give STU a 5-6-1 record, narrowly qualifying for the ACAA Championships in Fredericton. Their 16 points was one more then the University of King's College Blue Devils and will set them a date with the top seeded Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics. 

Tommies' head coach Michelle DeCourcey said her squad will have to be ready for their first match on Saturday against the Mystics.

"They have a solid squad," she said.  "We'll have to be strategic and purposeful in how we go about getting in behind their strong backline."

The Mystics finished at the top of the ACAA standings - a 7-0-5 record along with a league leading 22 goals. MSVU also only allowed four goals, the least in the ACAA. In the Tommies' two matchups with the Mystics, they lost 1-0 and took them to a 1-1 draw. 

But DeCourcey believes her team has the ability to beat anyone in the league. She said this going into the season and has maintained that confiedence going into the playoffs. A young team featuring 14 first-year players has proven to her that the Tommies are capable of pulling off an upset

"We added multiple attacking players with the ability to finish and a whole lot of speed up top and on our wings," she said. "Being able to attack on the flanks and play numerous balls into the 18-yard box per game gave us scoring opportunities that we just didn't have last year."

Jayci Peck (Woodstock, NB) was part of the class of rookies, proving she belonged in the ACAA. Peck scored six goals in her 12 games played, the most on the Tommies and sixth most in the ACAA. Rachel Haanstra (Fredericton, NB), another rookie, also finished in the top 10 with four goals.

But it wasn't just the offence leading the Tommies - Jessica McWilliams (Tracadie, NB) and co-captain Kaleigh Roberts (Moncton, NB) were leaders on the backline all season. DeCourcey said having the two was crucial to their success.

For Roberts, this year's team is one of the strongest teams she has been on in her five seasons with the Tommies. Having tied the Mystics in the season finale was a boost in momentum, having played their strongest game all year. Now, the challenge is the mental aspect.

"This is 100 percent going to be a mental battle for every team," Roberts said. "Going in as an underdog is an advantage in many ways but we have to show up like there is no doubt in our minds."

Roberts was a rookie on the 2017-18 Tommies, a championship team that defeated the Mystics in the finals. Now, she'll get a chance for one more title in front of her home fans.

"No matter he results, I know I'll be ending my time here in the best possible way."

The Tommies play the Mystics Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10:00 AM at the Grant- Harvey Turf Field, followed by the University of New Brunswick Saint John Seawolves (2) vs. UKC (3).

On the Men's side, the Tommies (1) play the Mystics (4) at 2:45.