MSOC: Trojans storm into ACAC final with penalty kicks victory
October 29, 2022- It took full-time, extra-time and penalty kicks, but the SAIT Trojans persevered and will now play for an ACAC championship. The Trojans beat The King's University Eagles 2-1 in penalty kicks in the ACAC men's semifinal on Saturday evening under the lights at Comets Stadium in Raymond, Alta. The Trojans will face the NAIT Ooks for the ACAC championship at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Tied 1-1 after 120 minutes of action, the teams lined up for penalty kicks, where the Trojans scored on each of their four kicks. Down to their final chance, the Eagles Kieran Toussaint (fourth year, Politics History and Economics, Edmonton) let a low drive go, but Trojans netminder Marko Ilich (third year, Open Studies, Calgary) made the save to send his team onto the championship.
"They're a good team, but we just had to keep fighting," said SAIT forward Jacob Hunter. "Coach said it's got to come from within, with our heart first. Hard work won it for us."
The Trojans, who went undefeated (9-0-1) in the ACAC regular season, controlled play throughout the opening 45 minutes but were unable to generate chances off their possession for most of the half. The best early opportunity came off the foot of ACAC south division player of the year Senay Haile (second year, Business Administration, Calgary) but King's University netminder Scott Hornbeck (fourth year, Education, Edmonton) was able to lay down to make the stop.
However, the Trojans were undeterred and really poured on the pressure in the closing minutes of the half. Well into extra time, the persistence paid off. Jacob Hunter (second year, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Calgary) corralled the ball from 20 yards out, made a quick dribble and then fired home a strike just inside the far post. The highlight reel goal gave SAIT a 1-0 halftime lead.
SAIT continued to push the pace in the second half. A burst of speed up the middle by Tysen Chatani (fourth year, Business Administration, Calgary) led to Toussaint taking a yellow card on a slide tackle. Off the ensuing free kick, Chatani fired a shot that sailed just over the crossbar, missing an opportunity for the Trojans to extend their lead.
The Eagles were unable to generate offense for most of the game but took advantage once they broke through. A slicing pass through the middle by Gabriel Ferreira (third year, Business, Uberlandia, Brazil) in the 63rd minute sprung Noah Bilodeau (second year, Social Science, Parkland County, Alta.) who sent a drive to the back of the net to even the score at one.
The Trojans nearly grabbed the lead in the ninth minute extra time, as a perfect cross from the sideline was headed towards the net by Brock Mitchell (first year, Open Studies, Calgary) but Hornbeck dove to make a spectacular save. Then in the 14th minute, Mitchell directed another header towards the net but was once again denied by Hornbeck as the Eagles survived the SAIT pressure.
The Trojans got goals from Chatani, Haile, Kyle Rothnie (1st year, Academic Upgrading, Victoria) and Hunter in the shootout. The Eagles first shooter, Ferreira, hit the crossbar, as the Trojans took the early lead. Bilodeau and Dorian Jacobs (fourth year, Arts, Edmonton) each scored before Ilich's save ended the game.
"We battled some adversity today, we didn't play well in moments, said SAIT coach Connor Brady. "But at the end of the day, that save has been coming from Marko Ilich for the past four years, he's been
unlucky in a couple of shootouts that we all know the keeper has a hard job in. And he deserves that one. That one was coming for a long time for Marco. I'm proud of him."
Hunter was named player of the game for SAIT, while Bilodeau earned the honour for the Eagles.
The SAIT Trojans and NAIT Ooks will battle for the ACAC championship at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at Comets Stadium in Raymond. The Eagles will face the Keyano Huskies at 12:30 p.m. in the bronze medal contest.
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. Additional photos from this game can be found on the Lethbridge College Kodiaks Flickr page.