LCC men’s soccer team takes second in the South
There will be no view from atop the South Division for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s soccer team.
Still, following a 1-1 tie with the Olds Broncos to cap off the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference regular season Sunday afternoon in Olds, you’re not going to see the Kodiaks turn up their noses at their current position either.
Entering the final day of action Sunday, the Kodiaks had an outside shot of overtaking the SAIT Trojans — who the Kodiaks blanked 4-0 24 hours earlier at the Servus Sports Centre — for first place in the ACAC South Division with a victory in Olds combined with a Trojans loss or a tie with the Medicine Hat Rattlers.
Following the Kodiaks deadlock with the Broncos and the Trojans downing the Rattlers 3-1, that didn’t happen, but Lethbridge head coach Sean Carey noted there’s no shame in second as the team now gets ready for ACAC provincials this weekend in Edmonton, hosted by the NAIT Ooks.
“It was kind of a let-down game from the day before,” said Carey, whose team finishes the regular season at 6-1-3. “The guys knew the importance, but it wasn’t through the lack of push and trying. We had them in their end for pretty much the last 20 minutes of the game, but we just couldn’t create that one really good scoring opportunity. We had lots of peripheral shots, but we didn’t have any really good looks. The boys were frustrated at the end, but you know what? In the scheme of things we would have taken second place at the start of the season. The main goal is to make the conference championship.”
Sadiq Adekunle scored the Kodiaks goal in the 22nd minute, while goaltender Kohl Wandyka stopped four of five shots.
The Kodiaks leave for Edmonton on Wednesday with action starting Friday when they take on the Concordia College Thunder (5-5) at noon.
On the women’s side, the Kodiaks lost 3-0 to complete their season, finishing at 2-7-1 to place fifth in the South.
“Today was one of those anti-climatic days for them, unfortunately,” said Carey. “It’s tough to get players up for the games when there’s no meaning, we’re going to finish where we finish whether we win or lose.
“I feel bad for the situation at the end because for eight games these girls played their hearts out and didn’t get rewarded, but it really does set us up for the future.”
After a breather, the Kodiaks women will focus on the futsal season.
“They’re a group of girls that want to work, they really listen to the coaches and do what we ask of them,” said Carey. “At the start of the season they would get the ball and get rid of it. Now they’re taking a look and making a pass. The girls know what we’re trying to get from them. It’s just repetition now. We’re young and have a lot of girls returning. We’ll persevere and go forward.”