Charlottetown, PEI - Student-athletes around the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) have endured a lot in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For Holland College’s Mohammad Alhaj Ali, the hard work and perseverance proved to be worth it, after his team qualified for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Soccer National Championships this fall.
Alhaj Ali, from Daraa, Syria, is a second-year striker on the Holland Hurricanes Men’s Soccer team, studying Kinesiology at Holland College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
In his two seasons of ACAA competition, Alhaj Ali has piled up the individual accolades:
- Holland Hurricanes Men’s Soccer MVP (2021, 2022)
- Holland Hurricanes Male Athlete of the Year (2021)
- ACAA Men’s Soccer All-Conference 1st Team (2021, 2022)
- CCAA Men’s Soccer All-Canadian (2021, 2022)
- ACAA Men’s Soccer Player of the Year (2022)
The only thing missing from Alhaj Ali’s list of accomplishments was an ACAA title. He got his opportunity to raise the ACAA Men’s Soccer banner in 2022.
The Hurricanes faced the STU Tommies in the 2022 ACAA Men’s Soccer Final, a rematch of the 2021 final. Penalty kicks were needed to decide a winner for the second straight year.
Alhaj Ali would confidently step up and score on his attempt.
“Because I was the first shooter, it was expected of me to put the team ahead. I looked at my teammates, my coaches, my family – I was doing this for them, they were relying on me,” he said.
The Holland Hurricanes won the match, being crowned ACAA Men’s Soccer champions, a feeling Alhaj Ali said was worth putting in all the hard work.
“It felt incredible; different from anything I’ve experienced before. It was a big achievement for our team. We overcame issues all season long, things that most had no idea of. We were mentally strong, we remained strong as a team – this was a big achievement for us,” he said.
The Hurricanes traveled Langley, British Columbia for the 2022 CCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship, hosted by the Langara College Falcons.
“The entire experience was very enjoyable. The level of competition was very high, but I felt like our team belonged,” said Alhaj Ali.
Hurricanes’ Head Coach, Jonathan Vos, has enjoyed seeing Mohammad Alhaj Ali develop as a player over the past two seasons.
“Mohammad is one of the most passionate players I have ever coached. His talent level combined with his motivation makes him a dangerous player to any opponent,” said Vos.
Alhaj Ali has become a big part of the Holland College community – something he is thankful for since moving to Prince Edward Island.
“Coming here to Holland College and playing for the Hurricanes has given me hope for life, coming here as a refugee to Canada. Coach Vos, Albert, Nadine, my instructors and the entire staff at Holland College have become a huge part of my life that I’m very thankful for,” he said.