Horns grads get sendoff
Stephen Primeau had just played his last game with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorn’s men’s soccer team. The Horns finished their Canada West season with a 2-1 loss to the Mount Royal Cougars Sunday afternoon at the University of Lethbridge Stadium, but as the local product graduates from the program, he already likes what he sees for the team in upcoming seasons.
“I found toward the middle of the season we kind of took a couple steps back,” said Primeau, one of five Pronghorns graduates honoured Sunday that included Mike Weigle, Thomas Hammerton, Blake Pipke and Sean Gaiesky. “But it’s the same thing, we’ve progressed so much as a team and even though this year wasn’t necessarily our year I think in the future with the young set of guys that they’ve got, a year or two from now I think they're going to have a strong core. So if it’s not next year, the year after they should be a contending team.”
On Sunday afternoon, a pictureperfect header from Jaden Veluw on a corner kick from Primeau in the 74th minute set the stage for another exciting finish. But despite a few close chances afterwards, the end result was another tough onegoal loss that had been a recurring theme this season as the Horns finish the season 0-11-3 and miss the post-season.
“I just think the resiliency we’ve shown all year has been phenomenal,” said Pronghorns head coach Randy Bardock. “We had another great chance right at the end. It was just one of those years where we just haven’t been able to get the goal when we needed it. But the attitude, the work ethic, the bounce-back mentality has been off the charts from this group.”
Gaiesky said the result was frustrating, but like his coach, credited his teammates for their push to the final whistle.
“The last five games we’ve been right in it each and every time and for some reason we can’t come up with the win. We’ve got a couple draws in a couple close games. But props to all the guys out there. We showed fight, we showed resiliency and in a difficult season that’s all you could ask for.”
The product of Prince George was grateful to bring his game to southern Alberta for the past five seasons.
“Lethbridge has become my home and I’m proud I could play for Randy and proud I could play for this program.”
Gaiesky noted those final few years fly right by,
“The first and second-year kind of slowly goes on and once you’re in your third year the next thing you know you’re in your fifth and playing your last game. But you know what? I can’t ask for a better group of guys to graduate with or a better group of guys to play my last season with.”
As the grads posed for pictures with family, friends and teammates, Primeau said knowing it’s the end of the line for his Horns days was “bitter sweet.”
“It’s exciting that I’m done and I kind of get to take a break, but I’m sure a couple weeks from now when everybody is starting their offseason again maybe even leading into spring next year it’s going to be like ‘What am I doing?’ Because I’m going to be missing something. I’m for sure going to have to find something to occupy my time because there’s only so much soccer you can play with in Lethbridge that isn’t post-secondary.”
That won’t be a concern come spring when Primeau heads to Holland on a five-month exchange.
“So I’m looking to do some schooling over there and some travelling, maybe some soccer if I get the opportunity. Then when I come back I’m looking to do my PS3 (professional semester) in the fall and graduate next spring and then hopefully find a teaching position in junior high or high school.”
Bardock said his graduating players have done everything that’s been asked of them during their time in Pronghorns silks.
“It’s amazing how far they’ve come as people. They’re a credit to their parents and the program and the community. It’s been amazing to watch them evolve over the years.”
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