Kodiaks claim ACAC bronze on home field
It was a big-time bronze medal performance for the hosts, as the Lethbridge College Kodiaks mined a medal from the 2022 ACAC women's soccer championships. The Kodiaks scored twice in the second half to shutout the NAIT Ooks 2-0 and finish their season on a high note in front of a vocal group of supporters at Comets Stadium in Raymond, Alta. It is the third straight ACAC bronze medal for the Kodiaks.
Lethbridge College head coach Sean Carey credited his players for their winning effort. "The refuse to lose attitude that they have," shared Carey after the match. "It was pretty straightforward, not one of them wanted anything but the medal today, so they were not going to let NAIT in there today and they just battled and battled."
The Ooks had the game's best early chance as Sarah Weremczuk (first year, Open Studies, Edmonton) found herself untouched with space in front of the net, but Kodiaks netminder Brooke Krowchuk (first year, Criminal Justice – Policing, Cochrane) made a big save, and the rebound opportunity then sailed high of the net. Krowchuk was forced into action after Kodiaks starting goalie Jordan Quinn (second year, Bachelor of Nursing, Picture Butte) was hurt during the ACAC semifinal, and Krowchuk had a great game, stopping all six shots she faced.
Late in the half, the Kodiaks Montanna Rouselle (first year, General Studies, Cranbrook) thrilled the home crowd with a rush down the wing, eluding a pair of Ooks defenders, but NAIT keeper Kailey Harder (fourth year, Advanced Care Paramedic, Edmonton) came charging out of the net to steal away the ball and the scoring opportunity to keep the game scoreless at half.
Scoring chances were tough to come by on a blustery day, but the Kodiaks finally broke through in the 68th minute. Off an Olivia DePasquale (third year, General Studies, Airdrie) corner kick, the ball was bouncing loose in the goalmouth until Kaleigh Stock (second year, Medical Device Reprocessing, Lethbridge) got a foot on it to knock it across the line to give the Kodiaks a 1-0 lead.
"We have a pretty short bench this season," says Stock. "But I think our work ethic and how hard we've worked all together really changed like this game and how we got here and I'm just really proud of everybody."
Pressing for the equalizer, the Ooks applied pressure throughout most of the half, but were unable to generate much in the way of chances. The Kodiaks then caught a break in the 86th minute as Harder, the Ooks netminder, misplayed the ball. Rousselle was in the right spot to take advantage, striking it across the line to make it 2-0 Kodiaks, securing the bronze medal for the hosts.
Stock was named player of the game for the Kodiaks, while Rachel Kraft (second year, Medical Radiologic Technology, Cochrane) earned the same honour for the Ooks.
The Kodiaks Taylor Hrycun (fourth year, General Studies, Edmonton) and Nikki Stahl (fourth year, Academic Upgrading, Lethbridge), and NAIT's Harder and Eleni Stamatakis (fifth year, Personal Fitness Trainer, Edmonton) were all named to the ACAC all-tournament team.
The 2022 ACAC Soccer Championships, presented by the Southern Alberta Homes Team at Royal Lepage South Country, are hosted by Lethbridge College at Comet Stadium in Raymond, Alta. All tournament information can be found online.