Fredericton, NB - Playing university soccer is a special opportunity. You get to play the sport you love at a high level, not to mention having a pathway to continue taking part in competitive soccer after high school.
At the same time, playing university soccer with your best friend makes the experience a little bit sweeter.
Just ask Aiden Liddle and Ethan Weir.
Liddle and Weir have known each other since sixth grade, having met at a middle school dance. During that same summer, they found themselves playing soccer together. The pair hit it off from the start.
Liddle and Weir played on a team that captured the under-13 provincial title in New Brunswick. Winning provincials meant their team had earned a berth in an Atlantic tournament in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
During this trip, the friends found time to hang out with one another and make memories. Some of those memories, according to the pair, will last a lifetime.
Now, the two have come full circle, finding themselves on the same university team.
“It's a really unique opportunity. If you put me back a year in time, I wouldn't have expected this to happen...But it's just it makes things a lot easier on those tough days where it's hard to get out of bed and go to training, you just know that you're in it with your with your best friend,” said Liddle. “At the same time, you get to go practice, crack some jokes, smile and see your best buddy.”
Liddle is in his first season with the Tommies. He transferred to STU after playing with the Mount Allison Mounties last season.
Knowing someone on the team, who happened to be his best friend, “took away some of the nerves” he was feeling about joining the Tommies.
“Off the field, we know each other so well. At this point I know if he's having a good time or a bad time... And I know how to give him criticism. I know how to pick him back up,” Liddle said. “When you have someone that can do that, it makes everything so much easier.”
This season, Weir and Liddle have had multiple occasions where their friendship has only gotten stronger. One of those times was when both men scored their first ACAA career goals during a home game earlier this season.
Weir recorded a hat-trick in that game, with his first goal coming less than a minute into the match.
“I remember I was being a little bit cringy to my teammates. I said, ‘that's my best friend, I love that guy.’ I was so excited for him. It was amazing to see. I almost shed some tears,” said Liddle. “Knowing how special of a moment that was for him, it was amazing to see.”
Liddle’s goal came later in the second half. The goal was a perfectly placed shot out of the keeper's reach, and was equally meaningful for the pair as they were able to share yet another soccer experience.
Weir is in his second season with the Tommies. He was part of the team that took home the ACAA championship last season.
Weir shared many of the same sentiments as Liddle, including how their friendship has been built on mutual support and shared memories in the sport.
“He texted me one day, and he was like, ‘I'm thinking of moving back to Fredericton and playing too.’ And I thought there was no way this happens. And then it finally happened. And I said, you're going to have a blast,” said Weir on his reaction to finding out he would be playing with his best friend.
“When he came back, I thought ‘this is going to be a great season filled with lots of smiles and laughs.’”
Even when Weir and Liddle were living away from each other, the pair would keep in contact and talk about everything and anything to do with the sport.
“We kept in contact when he wasn't living here, about different things that were going on in professional sports like soccer, and different players that we were talking about. We were also playing in the same league. He would be able to know what team they were playing that weekend. And I would ask him all the time about how they have guys did against that team, and he would give me an answer,” he said. “We still do that to this day. And we're lucky enough to be playing on the same team now.”
Weir is grateful to be playing at St. Thomas. He is proud of the moments shared this past season and is looking forward to more moments with Liddle and the rest of the team in years to come.
“To be on a university team that has their shot at the championship and competing at a high level, I'm looking forward to sharing some of those moments.”
Written by Leo Czank