Trojans a win closer to playoff spot
One more win, and the SAIT Trojans women’s soccer team is in.
The Trojans won their fourth straight Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference contest on Friday afternoon, shutting out the visiting Ambrose University Lions 1-0 at SAIT’S Cohos Commons Field.
“We talked about how we just needed a ‘W,’ no matter which way it comes,” said Trojans head coach John Talerico. “Very proud of the girls — they worked their tails off.”
SAIT moves to 6-3-2 on the season, while Ambrose falls to 0-11.
The working-their-tails-off comment comes from the fact SAIT played the majority of the game with just 10 players after rookie sensation Jade Metz went down with an ankle injury.
Although she walked off on her own power, Talerico made the decision to sit her down for the rest of the game and focus on her playing in Sunday’s must-win game against the host Olds College Broncos.
If the Trojans win Sunday, that would give them 26 points and one of three playoff berths.
A loss, coupled with two wins by either University of Alberta-augustana or Medicine Hat College this weekend would keep SAIT out.
TROJANS RUGBY WOMEN
In what turned out to be a defensive battle, a penalty kick in the final seconds of the game lifted the University of Calgary Dinos to an 8-7 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns to advance to the Canada West final on Sunday.
Following a Pronghorns penalty in stoppage time, Isla Shill kicked a penalty goal to give the Dinos the lead for the first time on the day and kept the Dinos hope of a fourth consecutive Canada West title alive. The Dinos will also advance to the U Sports Championships in Ottawa.
The loss is a devastating one for the Pronghorns, who led from the fourth minute and defended well all day but could not overcome penalties and handling errors to end the Dinos’ reign.
Calgary will face the UBC Thunderbirds at 1 p.m. Sunday for the Canada West title, while the Pronghorns will take on Victoria Vikes in the third-place game at 11 a.m.
Lethbridge put early pressure on the top-seeded Dinos and were rewarded with an early try. Off a Calgary penalty, Savanna Collison was able to push through in the 4th minute. Caitlin Sears made the convert to put the Pronghorns up 7-0.
Off a Lethbridge penalty and a quick tap, the Dinos pushed deep into the Pronghorns end in the 10th minute. Off a scrum from the five-yard line, Calgary pushed into the end zone, but the Lethbridge defence was able to hold the ball up.
TROJANS MEN’S SOCCER
The SAIT Trojans men’s soccer team has its collective foot on the gas pedal. The Trojans have now scored 24 goals in their last three games, the final nine coming Friday afternoon in a 9-0 decision over the visiting Ambrose University Lions in their ACAC game at Cohos Commons Field.
“For us, it was about maybe not over coaching and pulling the reins back on tactics and trusting the players a little more,” said Trojans head coach Connor Brady. “We’ve done that lately, and it seems to be working so far.” The Trojans moved to 9-1-1 on the year. Ambrose fell to 0-11.
TROJANS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Win No. 1 is in the books for the SAIT Trojans women’s volleyball team.
The Trojans headed south and beat the host Lethbridge College Kodiaks a 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 14-25, 25-17) in their Friday night ACAC game.
“I am quite pleased with our effort — I thought we stuck to our game plan,” said Trojans head coach Art O’dwyer.
SAIT moves to 1-1 on the season. Lethbridge College falls to 0-1.