Halifax Dunbrack Bremner’s is off to yet another perfect start, but it’s a perfect finish they want the most.
Dunbrack is the toast of the Nova Scotia Soccer League Premiership this summer, already clinching first and a bye to the provincial men’s final with a 10-0 record.
“So far, we’re where we want to be,” said head coach Alan Jazic.
So far. But Jazic and his troops have been here before. It’s Dunbrack’s third straight 10-0 start and the club is riding a spectacular 30-game regular-season unbeaten streak.
But the past two summers, Dunbrack has imploded in the playoffs. They took a 20-0 record into last year’s provincial final and melted down in a 3-2 loss to Halifax City.
“The fact that we’re 10-0 is great,” Jazic said cautiously, “but it’s secondary compared to what we want to do.”
Dunbrack has been powered by Ali Devereaux, who returned to Nova Scotia after a couple of years in New Brunswick. He leads the Premiership with nine goals, while one-time Toronto FC midfielder Derek Gaudet has six.
Last year’s Golden Boot winner Mike Marsh has slid back into a “provider” role from the midfield, feeding the ball to Devereaux in Dunbrack’s one-striker system.
“Ali doesn’t need three chances to score a goal, he needs one,” Jazic said. “The way he finishes in critical situations has been awesome. He’s a natural goal-scorer.”
Jazic has adjusted his game plan this summer as a result of last year’s disappointment, rotating his starters to get more players on the field on a week-to-week basis.
“We became a little bit too predictable sometimes,” Jazic said. “This year’s different. We’re using our depth more and we’re keeping that competitive spirit within.”
The road to nationals will likely go through City, which has captured five of the past six provincial crowns. The two teams meet twice in the final four games, including Monday night at Mainland Common, and it wouldn’t be a shock if those games serve as a championship game preview.
“Hopefully we can do one better this time around,” Jazic said.
