Trojans soccer teams chasing playoff berths
Men, women seeking wins this weekend
I don’t really like relying on other teams, other colleges, to bring us through, but again if we win both games then we’re through, so that’s what the girls have to do
SAIT SOCCER COACH GRANT STEVENS
The math is simple for the SAIT Trojans men’s and women’s soccer teams this weekend; win and you’re in.
The teams will complete their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) regular season Saturday and Sunday, hosting both Red Deer College and Lakeland College at SAIT’s Cohos Commons Field.
Weekend sweeps for both teams would see them move to third place, or better, within their respective divisions and into the ACAC playoffs. In fact, it’s the only way the men’s team (4-4) can get in. The women (3-3-2), on the other hand, need at least one win and a Lethbridge College Kodiaks loss to earn a postseason berth.
“I’m going to lay all my cards out on the deck. I’ve always said, ‘Regardless of the hand you’re dealt, you have to play that hand,’” said Grant Stevens, the head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams when asked about how he’s going to motivate his squads leading up to the weekend. “We’re going to be dealt a hand come Saturday, and they’re going to have to play that hand accordingly.”
Cassey Bush, a second-year veteran on the women’s team, guarantees that both teams will push as hard as they can to make the playoffs, and has called on the Trojans faithful to come out, show their support and make their presence known.
“That’s a big part of it. When we go to places like Lethbridge, their fans come and (yell) the entire time and try get into our heads,” she said. “So I’d love to see that from our fans.”
The weekend games go at noon (women) and 2 p.m. (men).
Getting one win, let alone two, could be difficult for the women’s teams this weekend. Their previous meeting with Red Deer (4-2-2) resulted in a 1-1 draw. Against Lakeland (2-5-1), they fell 3-2.
They sit alone in fourth place, three points back of Lethbridge and Red Deer, and 13 points back of the South Division-leading Medicine Hat Rattlers (8-1).
Medicine Hat and Lethbridge each play one remaining game, against each other, on Saturday. If Lethbridge loses and SAIT wins one of its two games, the teams will be tied for third place with 14 points, with the tiebreaker and playoff spot going to the Trojans based on their season-series sweep of the Kodiaks.
If Lethbridge beats Medicine Hat — they were the only team to do so this season — SAIT will need to win both games to again sit tied with them at 17 points.
“I don’t really like relying on other teams, other colleges, to bring us through, but again if we win both games then we’re through, so that’s what the girls have to do,” said Stevens.
Two wins and two wins alone will garner the defending ACAC men’s soccer gold medallists a playoff spot. They sit tied with Lakeland for fourth place with 12 points, three points behind Medicine Hat (4-2-3) and Red Deer (5-3) and five points behind Lethbridge.
The Trojans already own a win over Lakeland this season — 3-2 on Sept. 15. However, they fell to Red Deer by the same count on Sept. 14.
There is no denying the Trojans have talent. They employ two of the top five goal scorers in the South Division in Chris Rushworth (six) and Yassin Yusuf (five). To say the team as a whole has underachieved this season would be an understatement.
“If the mindset is there, we win both games,” said Grant. “I think technically, tactically, we’re sound, but it’s that mindset that we need.”
That said, does Stevens think his men’s team can convert on its last chance to make the playoffs?
“Everybody is going to come out strong, but we’re going to come out stronger,” he promised.