LFC men kick off season
The Lethbridge Football Club mens’ soccer team are 0-2 to kick off the Alberta Major Soccer League season. One goal made the difference as the LFC hosted the Edmonton Green & Gold during AMSL play Sunday afternoon at the Servus Sports Centre and it didn’t go the hosts way as Edmonton scored in the second half for a 1-0 win.
The one-goal loss came 24 hours after another one when the LFC were topped 2-1 by the Edmonton Drillers, starting the season-opening weekend homestand.
But if not for a bounce or two — and perhaps a bit of help from certain soccer deities — LFC head coach Bruce Primeau felt there could have been a different result for his side.
“Today, as like yesterday, the gods were against us. We both played a good game and the result of a draw should’ve been acceptable. They make a mistake and a ball falls back to their feet and then they score. Yesterday was the exact same goal. We actually took a step forward, and the ball stayed at his feet and it never should have. The soccer gods were clearly not in our favour today.”
However, better to get the bad bounces and miscues out of the way after the first week of the regular season.
“Everything we do builds toward Labour Day,” said Primeau. “I don't mind making these mistakes now, because then at the end of the season in September they are experienced and well-versed in those situations to not make those mistakes."
The LFC lost the likes of Andrew Southern and Andrew Primeau, who tore his ACL with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns last season, sidelining him this season.
Coming in to fill some of those roster spots is the likes of Matteo Pasquotti.
“The players we lost we replaced with like calibre players, so there shouldn’t be an excuse there,” said Primeau. “We are going to have to work on some bench depth. The guys that are on the bench are going to have to be ready to go at any time and they have to be able to perform at the level of the game."
Lethbridge’s Jaden Veluw noted a strong first half in both games.
“I think the fitness needs to get up there because in the second half we were dying off. We had some goals that didn't go our way, some lucky bounces, but it looks good coming in. We just have to get in better shape.”
The LFC are in Calgary Wednesday to take on the Villains Elite FC.
“I think we need to take our opportunities,” said Veluw. “In both games we didn't get many shots. We have to be more aggressive in the attacking and look to score.”
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The LFC women’s soccer team were winless in the opening weekend of Alberta Major Soccer League action, but they’re already ahead in one numbers department.
The LFC were downed 3-2 by the Edmonton Green & Gold during AMSL play under a hot sun Sunday afternoon at the Servus Sports Centre, capping off an 0-2 weekend following a 5-0 loss to Edmonton Northwest United Saturday afternoon at the Servus Sports Centre.
That starts the season at 0-2 for Lethbridge, but there’s one positive number that stands out in the early going for LFC head coach Kayla Wurzer.
“We have a huge roster this year, so that's a nice change,” she said. “We have lots of people to pick from and learn and build with and will continue to grow those players, the younger ones.”
On Sunday, a successfully converted corner kick proved to be the game-winner as the Green & Gold snapped a 2-2 tie.
Nikki Furukawa and Hailey Van Maanen scored for the LFC.
“It could've been anybody's game, they had a corner kick that went in, which was pretty lucky. But it is what it is,” said Wurzer.
On Saturday, the LFC and Northwest United battled to a scoreless draw at halftime.
“We came out really strong, we were with them and it was 0-0 at halftime,” said Wurzer. “After the half we have to change formation and we just lost control of the middle and we paid for it.”
The losses aside, the opening weekend provided some bright spots for the LFC.
“I think we found a formation that works for our team,” said Wurzer. “So I think everybody is excited to start working with that and building on that and will practise with it more and use it to our strengths."
Among the strong LFC roster numbers is returnee Aislinn Williston
“I think we have a lot of girls that are ready to work hard and grow this season,” said the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns veteran. “It was a good start to the year, yesterday was rough, but we have a long way to go still."
The LFC hit the road to Calgary Wednesday to face the Calgary Blizzard.
The team returns home May 26 when they take on the Edmonton Victoria at 2 p.m. at the Servus Sports Centre.
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