Huskies play Football not Soccer for ACAC Crown
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
Keyano Huskies become only the third team in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) men's soccer history (since 1983) to claim to the fact of back-to-back titles after defeating the SAIT Trojans 2-0 Sunday in the second overtime at the 2016 ACAC Men's Soccer Championships held in Medicine Hat.
Huskies won their first ACAC men's soccer title last year in a 1-0 win against the Lethbridge Kodiaks at a game played on home turf in Fort McMurray.
The only other schools to reach such status to date, have been the Mount Royal Cougars and NAIT Ooks.
Cougars went seven straight 1990-1997 and twice in 2003-2005 while the Ooks had a three-year run in 1986-89 while two-year performances were achieved 1983-85 and 2010-2012.
This year the Huskies established a new ACAC men's soccer record of most consecutive wins without a loss in (carry over) regular season play with 30 games.
Prior to falling to the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder 1-0 in their second last ACAC regular season game October22, 2016, the Huskies had not lost since September 29, 2013 in what was a 2-0 score against the MacEwan University Griffins.
The Huskies saved face against the Thunder in the ACAC semi-final Saturday, winning 2-0.
Goals came from the feet of Pedro Bianchi and Francis Kailondo
"The semi -finals are the semi –finals anyway you look at it," said Huskies coach Connor Brady. "We weren't looking back at the previous loss we had against them. We have respect for Concordia…they are a classy group. We knew we would have to bring our A game and we could not let ourselves get stuck into their way they play."
Thunder had advanced to the semi-final with an opening 1-0 Friday night shutout against the Lakeland College Rustlers.
SAIT Trojans had edged the Ooks 2-1 to set up the championship match against the Huskies.
Last time the Trojans claimed ACAC men's soccer supremacy was during the 2012-2013 campaign.
Huskies controlled the opening 45 minutes of the final with the waves of blue jersey attackers opening up a sea of red jersey defenders with scoring chances at the 12 and 25 minute mark going wide.
Huskies were also unable to capitalize on several direct kicks and corner kicks while the Trojans best chance came with three minutes remaining until half time, the teams entering the locker rooms scoreless.
"We were playing well in the first 45 minutes and we knew we just had to be patient," said Brady. "Patient and consistent. We stuck to our game plan and we knew sooner or later, we would get the ball into the back of the net."
Huskies continued to dominate in the second half with the Trojans coming to life in the final five minutes of regulation...Huskies goalie Steven Bohrson turning away several shots.
The opening goal came less than 90 seconds into the second overtime, a long pass ball by Adam Drouin finding a streaking Bianchi two-touching the ball and then blasting the ball low left side beating Trojans' goalie Kyle Greenley.
"Adam (Drouin) is a type of player that you can put out there for 90 minutes or more, all year, and he will get the job done," said Brady.
Huskies final marker came a few minutes later as Huskies goal keeper Bohrson booted the ball three quarters of the field with Yusuph Kalenga trapping the ball. With Trojans defenders covering him, Kalenga passed to teammate Monty Haines for the score.
Trojans head coach Grant Stevens had high-praise for both teams.
"It was a very very good game and it bodes well for college soccer in Alberta," said Stevens. "If you look at the way the games have improved…there was no malicious fouls anymore. We were playing football today not soccer which is a big difference. Today tatically it was well done by both teams."
Stevens continued: "Our boys played well and when the game went into overtime we struggled…we struggled because of pure fitness. My defenders reached the end of their season and I'm not looking forward to nationals because of the injuries we have."
Trojans qualify as ACAC Wildcard and the Huskies as the 2016 ACAC Champion and host team.
The 2016 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer Championships are to be staged at Fort McMurray'st Shell Place November 9-12, 2016.
'For us this (ACAC banner) is just one of our goals," said Brady. "We have still lots to finish accomplishing our end goal…the CCAA title."