LFC edged by Villains
A small lapse in play turned an otherwise solid performance into a close loss for the LFC men’s team.
The LFC was edged 3-2 by the Calgary Villains Elite FC during Alberta Major Soccer League action Saturday afternoon at the Servus Sports Centre.
Battling the now leagueleading Villains close at the half, the LFC let up for a small span in the second half and the visitors took advantage on their way to the win that puts the LFC at 2-2-2 and puts the Villains atop the AMSL at 4-11, one point ahead of the Calgary Callies (4-1).
“We played with them stride-for-stride,” said LFC head coach Bruce Primeau. “We had a great first half, but once again eight minutes of soccer in the second half cost us, as it’s done a couple of times this year.
“We usually sub at half time and yesterday was the first time where we made the subs and took a step back a bit and allowed the Villains to control the play for 15 or 20 minutes of that second half, of which eight cost us.”
Corey Frecka scored both LFC goals in Saturday’s loss.
It’s not the first time this season that a brief loss of focus has haunted the LFC.
“We had the same thing with the Victoria game when we were up in Edmonton (May 27),” said Primeau. “We were up 2-0 and gave away three in 14 minutes and came back and tied it up. Yesterday, the last eight minutes we panicked and gave away the PK. (Goaltender) Nolan French played another phenomenal game, but we’ve got to be able to, as a team, know that no matter happens, we can play the entire 90 minutes and good results will happen.
“There are lots of positives to take away. I don’t mind making these mistakes now (as) we build toward provincials. I’d rather make those mistakes now and have everybody learn from it.”
The LFC’s .500 record is still good for fourth in the league, two behind the third-place Edmonton Scottish (3-2-1) and one point up on the Edmonton Drillers (2-2-1).
Primeau not only likes what he sees from his roster as they head into mid-June, but the LFC bench boss pointed to parallels to other local soccer programs.
“I think this season is a continuation of the success that both the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns have had and the Lethbridge College Kodiaks have had. It’s not the same players, but there are a good group of players that are crossovers and that attitude along with the positives on our end have brought the guys into buying into and believing what we’re doing.”
The process will continue with another home game this weekend as the 2-0 Edmonton Green and Gold come calling to the Servus Sports Centre Saturday.
“Which will be another phenomenal test,” said Primeau. “The Green and Gold have won 1-0 in both of their first two games. But (we have) the Green and Gold next weekend and the (Edmonton) Drillers (June 24) to finish out June. From the start of the season, the 3-1 (loss) to the (Edmonton) Scots, who were the reigning champions last year. We were down 2-1, we missed a PK and they came down and scored. We’ve been in every game. Every time we have that little setback it seems to really cost us hard.”
The LFC have seen what happens when they put together a complete game like they did in a May 31 2-0 road win over the Calgary Callies.
“We controlled their play and smothered the attack, we did all the good things,” said Primeau. “We made the same subs against the Callies that we did against the Villains, but the result was different. So we’re going to talk about that this week.”
As the work on a consistent, full game, Primeau noted one aspect of this year’s LFC