Kodiaks soccer gets it done on the road

It was a day of first-career goals that stood up as gamewinners and playoff clinching wins for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks soccer teams.

Fittingly, both the women’s and men’s teams got in the act as the Kodiaks kicked off their weekend road swing on a winning note as the Kodiaks women edged the Lakeland College Rustlers 2-1 during Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon in Lloydminster, while the Kodiaks men posted a 4-1 win.

In the women’s game, Payden Olsen struck for her first goal at the ACAC level that was also the game-winner as the Kodiaks edged the Rustlers to keep their slim playoff hopes afloat for now.

Afterwards, the Kodiaks men took to the pitch and clinched a playoff spot with a 4-1 decision that also included a first goal of the season. Eric Porter netted Lethbridge’s fourth goal in the win that moves the Kodiaks to 5-1-2, second in the ACAC South Division and five points behind the front-running SAIT Trojans.

Their spot in the post season is cemented, but Kodiaks head coach Sean Carey conceded he had seen better outings from his team.s

“I wouldn’t call it our best performance of the year,” he said.

Still, the Kodiaks drew first blood a little past the 15minute mark on a highlight reel performance from Wilson Ntignee, who had two goals on the day.

“He cut in from the wing, switched it to his right foot and put it right in the top corner,” said Carey. “It was probably the best goal we’ve scored all season.”

Ntignee added his second of the game to hand the Kodiaks a 2-0 lead at the halftime break before Emmanuel Ipaa made it 3-0 Lethbridge in the 57th minute.

Then came Porter’s goal that had the rest of the team jumping.

“It got a big cheer out of the bench,” said Carey. “Eric has been working hard all year and it was great to get him out on the field.”

Kodiaks goaltender Kohl Wandyka made seven saves in the winning cause.

On the women’s side, Olsen’s goal completed a comeback for the Kodiaks, who trailed 1-0 at the half.

“It went really well, the girls showed a lot of character,” said Carey.

Brooklyn Bellavance pulled the Kodiaks even just shy of the 58th minute, setting the table for Olsen’s winner of a corner kick.

“We were telling the girls to gamble a little bit, the ball dropped and she got her knee on it,” said Carey.

Stephanie Klassen drew the assist on the game-winner, while Jillian Brown made seven saves in the win.

The Kodiaks cap off their road trip today with a stop in Red Deer to take on the Kings and Queens.

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