Huskies Kick Their Way to Soccer History for Keyano
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
Fort McMurray, AB - Gold Medal Game
Defending Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Soccer Champion Humber Hawks stepped out onto the pitch at Shell Places' SMS Equipment Stadium Saturday night having outscored their opponents 11-0 in the two opening games at the 2016 CCAA Men's Soccer Championships being held in Fort McMurray Alberta.
Standing in their way of a possible fourth gold in five years were the host Keyano College Huskies.
A tight-knit squad, the Huskies were ready to make history.
Having entered the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) soccer program in 2002 the Huskies program, to say the least, had struggled by winning only 25 regular season games in it's first 12 years.
Things slowly started to change in 2012 with new faces and new laces under the mentor ship of head Coach Connor Brady. The Huskies advanced up the competitive ladder. Seven wins in 2014 and an ACAC silver medal.
Back-to-back seasons of nine wins in a 10-game regular season with back-to-back ACAC gold medals in 2015 and 2016.
Two consecutive CCAA appearances with fifth place finishes in Toronto 2014 and Montreal 2015.
This year the Huskies had also established a new ACAC men's soccer record of most consecutive wins without a loss in (carry over) regular season play with 30 games.
Prior to falling to the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder 1-0 in their second last ACAC regular season game October 22, 2016, the Huskies had not lost since September 29, 2013 in what was a 2-0 score against the MacEwan University Griffins.
The Huskies were ready to make history. History by claiming Keyano's first-ever team medal in CCAA competition. Having entered the ACAC in 1985 it had been a long wait for the Northern Alberta institution.
Would the medal be gold or silver? As for Humber men's soccer history, it could be the first time for that a perfect season...having entered the game with a 15-0 slate. With a large crowd in attendance the Huskies were placed behind the eight ball at the 26 minute mark when Francis Kailondo was given a red card, putting the Huskies one man down.
The Hawks had faced a similar situation last year when they played two men down in their 2015 gold medal win against the Capilano Blues. Three minutes into the second half, Hawks opened scoring in a goal mouth scramble with Jordan Piccinin getting credit. It was his third goal of the tournament. A header by Kingsley Boasiako off a corner kick made it 2-0 for the Hawks at 74 minutes. That would be the final score.
Huskies Player of the Game: Tali Guet
Hawks Player of the Game: Jaineil Hoilett
"Having faced similar circumstances last year I knew that with a man down there is still a lot of fight in a team," said Hawks coach Michael Aquino in a post game one-on-one interview which was conducted at the centre pitch, moments after he got off a celebratory Skype call to his wife Caitlin and six-year old son Christian.
"They (Keyano) had several opportunities to score and that was probably one of our best games of the year. They are a very good team and it is unfortunate that they went down to 10 men...other wise that could have been a different game.
"We've been to six (CCAA) national tournaments in the last eight years and this was one of the best (organized)."
Huskies coach Brady, with tears welling in his eyes, was hard fought to describe the historic ride.
"Right now it is tough to swallow. If I thought I was proud to be part of this program before today after everything we have accomplished…. Today is just 10 fold, 10 fold. These guys go down a man early and they battled. They refused to quit on each other. We have guys limping around...broken...and the amount of heart and courage this team has...it's motivating.
"It's everything this sport is about and what sports in general is about. Building of good people, being there for family and team and school and city."
Huskies had advanced to the championship with an opening day 3-2 decision against PACWEST team Douglas Royals.
The Royals had opened the scoring as fleet-footed Issac Keys out sprinted the defensed to pass a low ball to teammate Max Williams for a tap in goal.
The Huskies responded at the 43 minute mark on a Pedro Bianchi penalty kick to send the teams into the locker room tied 1-1. Bianchi, a 5th year student/athlete, made it 2-1 Huskies at 54:00 with several hundred fans in attendance celebrating. Ayman Hassen made it 3-1 at 79 minutes on a two-on-one scenario. Race Williams scored in extra time for the Royals but the Huskies held on for the win.
Huskies Player of the Game: Pedro Bianchi
Royals Player of the Game: Quinn Dawson
In the semi-finals Huskies defeated 2015 CCAA silver medalist Capilano Blues 3-1.
In a evenly contested first half the Blues surrendered an own goal when a Capilano defender headed the ball back and past goalie Hudson Nelles.
In the second frame, Ayman Hassen scored for the Huskies at 62 minutes then proceeded to celebrate his goal by jumping into the awaiting arms of fans in the stands.
The Blues responded with a penalty kick goal at 75 minutes by Nicolas Morello, bringing them back within one. Capilano continued to press but were stymied by several acrobatic saves from Huskies goalie Steven Bohrson. The Huskies sealed the victory with a third goal off the foot of Rodrigo Wogel Koebsch in the 88 minute.
Huskies Player of the Game: Steven Bohrson
Blues Player of the Game: Nicolas Morello
The other team representing the ACAC was Wildcard entry SAIT Trojans, who had lost to the Huskies 2-0 at the ACAC Championship held in Medicine Hat.
In their CCAA 7th/8th placement game Trojans fell to Douglas Royals 2-0.
Royals' Mateo Serka opened the scoring at 35 minutes following the set-up from Issac Kyei. Trojans Daniel Schager tied the game at 39 minutes lobbing the ball in to the high right corner with a shot from just outside the penalty area. A passing attempt from Kyei at 83 minutes found the foot of a Trojans defender for an own goal, leading to a victory for the Royals
Trojans Player of the Game: Daniel Schager
Royals Player of the Game: Max Williams
Trojans had lost their opening game of the tournament 3-0 to the Humber Hawks.
ACAC players named to the CCAA All Star team were Huskies goalie Bohrson, defender Angel Goldson and striker Ayman Hassen.