What a year it was on the local soccer pitch
As we enter the new year, here are the top soccer moments, stories and achievements from 2019:
Percy Hoff was given the prestigious honour of being named Kinsmen Sportsman of the Year. Hoff has a lifetime of dedication to growing the game of soccer, specifically in player and coaching development.
Last February, local soccer legend Emilio Godoy nearly lost his life in a workplace accident. While preventing a co-worker from being run over by a forklift, Godoy got hit in the process. With his internal organs shutting down and several surgeries, he miraculously survived. Needing his leg reconstructed, he was determined to play soccer again. On Dec. 15, a mere 10 months after the accident, Godoy returned to the game and scored twice in an Alianza win over Barnstone.
On Feb. 22, goal-scoring phenom Gary Entwistle headed his way to the ultimate hat-trick. In a master’s league game with the Vendasta Dodgers, Entwistle scored three headers, all from corner kicks.
Thomas Hasal followed in Brett Levis’ footsteps, becoming the second player from Saskatoon to sign a Major League Soccer contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps. In his return match, he led the Whitecaps U23’s to a shootout win over the SK Selects at SMF Field.
Poland men won their first Saskatoon World Cup and Futsal World Cup. Nikolas Baikas and Jay Tomchuk took home individual awards. Baikas won MVP of the Saskatoon World Cup, Tomchuk the golden boot for most goals. Honours were reversed in their futsal victory.
Tomchuk and Baikas took part in Team Canada training camp in Laval, Que. Both are vying for a roster spot and a chance to represent our country in Futsal World Cup qualifying set for Guatemala.
Norway women, composed of REX players, won their first Saskatoon World Cup, going undefeated to dethrone First Nations in the final.
Six players from the REX program were invited to National Superrex centres, a Saskatchewan first. Penny Mulenga attended the Canada under-20 women’s national team camp. Mulenga earned herself a scholarship to Texas Tech, playing all 22 games in her first season and scoring twice.
Saskatchewan boys and girls won bronze at the Western Canada Games in Swift Current. Nammi Nguyen scored six times, securing the top goal scorer award.
Longtime club Paladins celebrated a historic milestone in 2019. It’s their 40th anniversary in the local adult league. James Earl leads the club, having played nearly 1,400 games.
Centennial Chargers boys have an established winning culture. They captured their third straight provincial gold. Captain Luke Mackie scored the lone goal in the provincial final win over rivals St. Joseph.
Holy Cross Crusaders girls upset previously undefeated Centennial and St. Joseph Guardians on the same weekend, en route to the city playoff title. The Guardians would get their revenge, winning provincial gold over those same Crusaders.
U of S Huskies women had a stellar season, hosting a playoff quarter-final. Their campaign included an eight-game undefeated streak. Maya Gabruch was named a firstteam Canada West all-star, while Halle Krynowsky was chosen for the all-rookie team.
Fifth-year graduate and captain of the Huskies, Jacob Powell, was named an all Canadian by U Sports. Powell was an integral part of a team which won its last six regular-season games. In cold, wintry conditions, the Huskies eliminated perennial favourites Victoria to advance to the Canada West final four.
On Dec. 5, Cam Klein recorded a memorable natural hat-trick. Klein scored three times in just 60 seconds for Real Talk in a men’s division one-boarded game.
An all-star cast of Saskatchewan men players was brought together to form the SK Selects. In the first match of a three-game SK Summer Soccer Series, 3,067 fans turned up. It was the largest recorded attendance ever to watch a local soccer team play in Saskatoon.
On Aug. 11, the Selects shocked Toronto FCII 2-0 on goals by James Fraser and Nikolas Baikas.