ACAC Men Soccer Championship Preview
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
This Friday afternoon the forecast calls for cloudy skies and a high of 7 degrees Celsius in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
One of these teams, the Huskies, Ooks, Rattlers, Rustlers, Thunder and Trojans, will look for sunshine and hot feet though as they kick off at the 2016 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Championship presented by Elite Sportswear and Awards and hosted by the Medicine Hat Rattlers.
Following are thumb nail sketches of each team and quotes from head coaches.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Game 1 12:00 PM
Medicine Hat College vs. NAIT - Watch on ACACTV.ca
Medicine Hat Rattlers
Head Coach: Jim Loughlin
2016 Record: 5 wins 2 losses 3 ties 18 goals for 10 goals against
Top Scorers: Albert Woodroffe-Brown 6 Allan Siwela 6
"Our team is healthy and fairly well-rested. NAIT is a difficult challenge and we should be able to compete with them.
"We have a balanced team. We have no individuals that stand out. We have had scoring from five or six different guys and we have a nice blend of youth and senior players."
NAIT Ooks
Head Coach: Charles O'Toole
2016 Record: 8 wins 2 losses 42 goals for 10 goals against
ACAC Championships 10
Top Scorers: Bastian Carrasco 8 Sebastian Cabrera 7 Sadi Jalali 5 Kyle Cummings 5
"its (balanced scoring) a nice luxury to have. We are looking better than in years past in that area as we are able to spread goal scoring around. We are also pretty healthy at this stage of the season for the first time in a couple of years.
"We have been allowed this year to play with our heads rather than emotions and it's been an overall team commitment rather than being one or two players. The team came together as one and that has proven more successful."
Game 2 2:00 PM
Concordia University of Edmonton vs. Lakeland College - Watch on ACACTV.ca
Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder
Head Coach: Ian Skitch
2016 Record: 7 wins 3 losses 22 goals for 15 goals against
ACAC Championships 3
Top Scorers: Ahmed Abubaker 6 Israel Olufuwa 4
"Oladeji Ademola has played for us really well lately and he has been a difference maker the last couple of games. Jose Villanueva (Captain) at the back comes out every game with his leadership and ability to play. We are playing well as a team.
"Rumour has it that Lakeland has a couple of quick strikers, so we will have to out defence them and compete physically."
Lakeland College Rustlers
Head Coach: Kevin Wagner
2016 Record: 7 wins 1 loss 2 ties 27 goals for 7 goals against
Top Scorers: Troy Trench 10 Stefan Cucovic 9
"Troy (Trench ) is hurt and he hasn't played much in the last four games and right now he probably will not be dressing. But we are more than a one trick pony as our whole basis is off a team game and team principle. We will see how it plays off.
"Concordia are a team that deserves to be in playoffs, just like we do and it should be a decent game."
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Game 3 12:00 PM
Winner game 1 vs. SAIT - Watch on ACACTV.ca
SAIT Trojans
Head Coach: Grant Stevens
2016 Record: 8 wins 2 losses 26 goals for 11 goals against
ACAC Championships 1
Top Scorers: William Akio 6 Darel Ejikeme 4 Nick Moore 4
"For the first time in a long time, it (ACAC Championships) is extremely unpredictable. We could end up in the top two and make the finals. We have overall strength all around.
"Eric Roa (5th year midfielder) brings experience, not only physically but psychologically and he is a great mentor for all the rookies coming through."
Game 4 2:00 PM
Winner game 2 vs. Keyano College - Watch on ACACTV.ca
Keyano College Huskies
Head Coach: Connor Brady
2016 Record: 9 wins 1 tie 33 goals for 5 goals against
ACAC Championships 1
Top Scorers: Francis Kailondo 9, Rodrigo Koebsch 9, Montgomery Haines 5
"As defending champion it might put a bit of an X on our back but we take pride in being considered a threat. It also means that we have put our program in a good place.
"We have taken it one game at a time this year as we have prepared to be tough to beat. Our strength is that we are an organized group that like to attack in layers and we don't have too many gaps on the field.
"(Newcomers) Francis Kailondo and Montgomery Haines have brought extra experience to the team and are both strong bodies and talented players. We lean on them to push players to a new level."