Lethbridge College is proud to host the 2019 ACAC Futsal Championships from March 15 to 17 in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.
Nine men's teams and nine women's teams are playing a combined 40 games over three days to determine the conference champions. Round robin games take place on Friday and Saturday, followed by semifinals and the championship matches on Sunday.
Here are the results from the first day of action:
WOMEN'S
Trojans, Lions, Eagles all perfect on day one
The games were close and the action exciting as day one of the 2019 ACAC Women’s Futsal Championships is in the books.
In Pool B, the Ambrose Lions roared to life after surrendering a lead to the host Lethbridge College Kodiaks, and earned a 4-3 victory. That win lifted Ambrose into a tie for first place in Pool B, along with the favoured SAIT Trojans. Both teams are 2-0. The loss dropped the Kodiaks to 1-1, while both Augustana and Lakeland are searching for their first wins.
In Pool A, there is still a lot to be decided. The Keyano Huskies are on top of the pool with four points, but The King’s University is just a single point back and have played only one game. The Huskies trailed Olds College by a pair in the second half, but battled back to earn a tie, which leaves them at 1-0-1. The Eagles won their only game, 4-3 over Medicine Hat College, and will play twice on Saturday. Olds has a single point through one game, while Medicine Hat has a pair of losses.
Keyano’s Amanda Giesbrecht, who had a four goal game against Medicine Hat, and Christine Moser of the Kodiaks each have four goals to lead the tournament. Five separate players scored three times on the opening day.
The round robin play will wrap up on Saturday, with the top two teams in each pool qualifying for Sunday’s playoffs.
Game #1 | 8:30 a.m. | UAA 2 vs LETH 5
The final score showed the host Lethbridge College Kodiaks firmly in control, but it took some second half magic to secure a tournament-opening 5-2 win over the UAA Vikings. The Vikings scored with just over five minutes left in the first half to lead 2-1 at the break on goals by Demi Vermeer and Emily Mason. However, the Kodiaks scored a pair of goals early in the second half to take a 3-2 lead. Kodiaks netminder Paige Gattafoni made a huge save with under a minute and a half left in the game to keep her team in the lead and Lethbridge added a pair of goals late to secure the win. Sydney Hope had a hat trick for the Kodiaks. Lethbridge goes to 1-0 in the tournament, while the Vikings fall to 0-1.
Goals:
Lethbridge: Hope 3, Moser, Noronha
Augustana: Vermeer, Mason
Players of the game:
Lethbridge: Christine Moser
Augustana: Demi Vermeer
Game #2 | 9:45 a.m. | LAKE 2 vs SAIT 5
The SAIT Trojans put together a methodical effort to out-pace the Lakeland Rustlers 5-2 to open the 2019 ACAC Futsal Championships. The Trojans’ Mataya Blakney scored with 10 minutes remaining in the first half to give her team a 2-0 lead at the break. Blakney then added her second of the game three minutes into the second half to put the match out of reach. SAIT led 5-0 with 17 minutes left in the game, before the Rustlers added two goals late to break the shutout. The Trojans are now 1-0, while the Rustlers fall to 0-1.
Goals:
SAIT: Blackney 2, Gordon, McPherson, LaBranche
Lakeland: Lang, Boutin
Players of the game:
SAIT: Skye Gordon
Lakeland: Sterling Cannan
Game #3 | 11 a.m. | MHC 3 vs TKU 4
In one of the closest games of the morning of day one in the women’s draw of the ACAC Futsal Championships, The King’s University Eagles held off the Medicine Hat College Rattlers 4-3. The Rattlers held a pair of one-goal first-half leads, but the Eagles answered back each time as the teams were tied at two at the break. Kaylee Croft put the Eagles ahead just over a minute into the second half and Aimee Tiemstra converted on a penalty kick to provide some insurance as King’s took a 4-2 lead. Aleena Matthews replied for the Rattlers, but a late push came up short as the Eagles earned the win to go to 1-0. The Rattlers fall to 0-1.
Goals:
King's: Roque, Hrycun, Croft, Tiemstra
Medicine Hat: Hole, Dorais, Matthews
Players of the game:
King's: Kalie Maskell
Medicine Hat: Kaylei Hole
Game #4 | 12:15 p.m. | KC 4 vs OLDS 4
The Olds Broncos tried to run away, but the Keyano Huskies were dogged in their pursuit, and used some last minute heroics to salvage a 4-4 draw. Olds scored three goals in under two and a half minutes early in the game, the first two by Felicia Rodney, to build a 3-0 lead. Keyano scored one late in the half but still trailed 3-1 at the break. The Huskies got back within one early in the second half, but Rodney’s hat trick goal restored the Broncos two-goal advantage. Taylor Fraser-Chaba scored with just over 8 minutes to play to close the gap to one, then the Huskies Blanca Palavecino found the back of the net with just 43 seconds remaining to tie the game. Both teams are now 0-0-1.
Goals:
Olds: Rodney 3, Espie-Sanderson
Keyano: Palavecino 2, Bates, Fraser-Chaba
Players of the game:
Olds: Felicia Rodney
Keyano: Kennedy Bates
Game #5 | 1:45 p.m. | LETH 3 vs AMB 4
The Ambrose Lions opened their ACAC championship tournament with a win, handing the hosts a loss in the process, as Ambrose edged Lethbridge College 4-3. The Lions, playing their first game of the day, took advantage of the tired legs of the Kodiaks as the tournament hosts were playing their second game of the day, and jumped out to a 3-0 first half lead. Bethany Herman had a pair of goals just 52 seconds apart. From there, the Kodiaks Christine Moser took over, scoring once in the first half and twice more in the second half to tie it at three with under nine minutes to play. But Herman was the hero, scoring her hat trick goal for the winner with just under four minutes remaining. The Lions go to 1-0, while the Kodiaks dropped to 1-1.
Goals:
Ambrose: Herman 3, Hintz
Lethbridge: Moser 3
Players of the game:
Ambrose: Bethany Herman
Lethbridge: Christine Moser
Game #6 | 3 p.m. | SAIT 8 vs UAA 1
The SAIT Trojans entered the ACAC futsal championships as one of the favourites and lived up to that billing in an 8-1 triumph over the UAA Vikings. After the Trojans scored just over a minute into the match, the Vikings held them in check for most of the rest of the first half. But the always dangerous SAIT squad scored twice in seven seconds late in the half to take a 3-0 lead. The Trojans had six different players score in the victory, while Augustana broke the shutout bid in the final seconds of the game. SAIT finishes the first day of action at 2-0, while the Vikings fall to 0-2.
Goals:
SAIT: McPherson 2, Lee 2, S. Meyers, Blackney, Gordon, O'Brien
Augustana: Mason
Players of the game:
SAIT: Madelaine Lee
Augustana: Taylor Olson
Game #7 | 4:15 p.m. | KC 7 vs MHC 2
The Keyano Huskies needed late game dramatics to secure a tie in their first game of the ACAC championships. No such flair was needed in their second match, as they flew past Medicine Hat College 7-2. Amanda Giesbrecht scored a pair of first half goals and added to more early in the second half to pace the Huskies attack. With one win and one tie, Keyano finishes day one on top of the Pool A standings. The Rattlers fall to 0-2.
Goals:
Keyano: Giesbrecht 4, Bates, Palavecino, Lichti
Medicine Hat: Cresswell, Matthews
Players of the game:
Keyano: Blanca Palavecino
Medicine Hat: Kassidy Suberlak
Game #8 | 5:30 p.m. | LAKE 1 vs AMB 2
Needing a win to end the day tied for first in their pool, the Ambrose Lions did just that and earned a 2-1 victory over the Lakeland Rustlers. Rachel Wolf and Kaitlin Vail each scored early in the first half to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. They were Ambrose’s only goals of the game, but the only ones they needed as they held off the Rustlers to earn the victory. Ambrose is 2-0, tied with SAIT for tops in Pool B, while Lakeland falls to 0-2.
Goals:
Ambrose: Wolf, Vail
Lakeland: Boutin
Players of the game:
Ambrose: Rachel Wolf
Lakeland: Nikki Boutin
MEN'S
Kodiaks, Broncos, Huskies lead the way
With eight games on the opening day of the 2019 ACAC Men’s Futsal Championship, parts of the playoff picture are already becoming clearer – although there is still much to be decided on day two.
In Pool B, the host Lethbridge College Kodiaks and the Olds Broncos are tied for first after each winning their first two games. The Kodiaks needed some last-minute heroics, as Jimmy Bukuru scored with just 15.7 seconds remaining in the day’s final game to beat Ambrose 4-3. Combined with an 8-3 win over Augustana earlier, the Kodiaks end the day 2-0. The Broncos are also 2-0 thanks to wins over Medicine Hat College and Ambrose.
Medicine Hat is still in the picture with a 1-1 record, while Ambrose and Augustana trail the pack.
The Broncos’ Fabian Gromenida leads the scoring race with seven goals, with a pair of Kodiaks close behind as Wilson Ntignee has five and Jimmy Bukuru has four.
In Pool A, the Keyano Huskies are already proving to be the team to keep an eye on. The Huskies won both their games on Friday, 7-3 over Lakeland and 4-1 against The King’s University to sit alone atop the pool as the only unbeaten team. Neto Miguel and Ricardo Rojas each have three goals to lead the Huskies and are tied for the scoring lead in the pool.
King’s has a slight edge in the race for second with a 1-1 record, however Lakeland and SAIT, who each lost their only game on Friday, will face each other on Saturday.
Round robin games will wrap up tomorrow before the playoffs on Sunday.
Game #1 | 8:30 a.m. | OLDS 5 vs MHC 3
It was a tale of two halves in the opener of the ACAC men’s championship tournament, as the Olds Broncos built a large lead and hung on for a 5-3 win over the Medicine Hat Rattlers. The Broncos Fabian Gromenida put on a show, scoring early and often, as he had all four Olds goals as they took a 4-0 lead at half. However, the Rattlers rallied at half, scoring three straight to climb back within one. The Broncos bucked up late, as Ushinder Mutabazi scored with just over one minute remaining to secure the victory to go to 1-0. Medicine Hat falls to 0-1.
Goals:
Olds: Gromenida 4, Mutabazi
Medicine Hat: Almeida 2, Woodroffe-Brown
Players of the game:
Olds: Ushindi Mutabazi
Medicine Hat: Victor Cambeiro
Game #2 | 9:45 a.m. | LETH 8 vs UAA 3
The hometown Lethbridge College Kodiaks were favoured coming into a matchup with the UAA Vikings, but the Kodiaks had to overcome some early nerves before claiming an 8-3 victory. Muaz Omar and Deme Ibrahima scored minutes apart late in the first half to give the Vikings a 3-2 lead at the break. However, the Kodiaks broke it open in the second half, scoring five times in the first 15 minutes to secure a lead they would never surrender. Wilson Ntignee scored four times, while Ben Knight and Jimmy Bukuru each added a pair. The Kodiaks record goes to 1-0, while the Vikings are 0-1.
Goals:
Lethbridge: Ntignee 4, Bukuru 2, Knight 2
Augustana: Mwakabungu, Omar, Ibrahima
Players of the game:
Lethbridge: Wilson Ntignee
Augustana: Deme Ibrahima
Game #3 | 11 a.m. | KC 7 vs LAKE 3
The Keyano Huskies held off a hard-fighting Lakeland Rustlers team to earn a tournament-opening 7-3 victory. The Rattlers held the Huskies scoreless for more than 17 minutes in the first half, before Keyano struck with a pair of quick goals. A Ricardo Rojas tally with just 17 seconds left in the first half extended that lead as Keyano led 3-0 after 25 minutes. The Huskies extended the lead to 5-0 early in the second half, before Lakeland showed some life with three straight goals inside the final four minutes. With the Rustlers back within two, Keyano settled down and scored twice in final 30 seconds for the victory and a 1-0 record. The Rustlers fall to 0-1.
Goals:
Keyano: Koebsch 2, Filhou 2, J. Fonkou, Miguel, Rojas
Lakeland: Cal, Hatzenbuhler, Peters
Players of the game:
Keyano: Ricardo Rojas
Lakeland: Yam Murray
Game #4 | 12:15 p.m. | TKU 3 vs SAIT 0
It was an old-fashioned goaltenders battle as The King’s University Eagles and SAIT Trojans exchanged many chances, but few goals in a 3-0 Eagles win. Daniel Perrault opened the scoring 10 minutes into the game and it was the only goal of the first 48 minutes. Eagles goalie Tosh Hartley and his counterpart from SAIT, Paul Claassen exchanged big save after big save, before King’s finally cemented the win with a pair of goals in the final 1:20 by Antonio Krajancic. The Eagles go to 1-0, while the Trojans fall to 0-1.
Goals:
King's: Krajancic 2, Perrault
Players of the game:
King's: Antonio Krajancic
SAIT: Paul Claassen
Game #5 | 1:45 p.m. | OLDS 8 vs AMB 4
The goals started early and never stopped as the Olds Broncos charged to an 8-4 win over the Ambrose Lions. The Broncos led just 2-1 at half time, but Fabian Gromenida scored his first of three in the game in the opening minute of the half, starting a run of three Broncos goals in five and a half minutes, to build a 5-1 lead. Luiz Guimaraes also had a hat trick, as the Broncos improved to 2-0, and will sit atop the Pool B standings after one day. The Lions, who got three goals from Nathan Polonenko, fall to 0-1.
Goals:
Olds: Gromenida 3, Guimaraes 3, Murphy, Wolff
Ambrose: Polonenko 3, Reimer 1
Players of the game:
Olds: Landon Murphy
Ambrose: Nathan Polonenko
Game #6 | 3 p.m. | MHC 8 vs UAA 2
After a morning loss, the Medicine Hat Rattlers knew they needed a victory to keep up in a competitive Pool B at the ACAC championships, and they delivered in a big way. The result was never in doubt as the Rattlers beat the UAA Vikings 8-2. In an interesting phenomenon, the Rattlers had the same four players score in both the first and second halves, with a late Vikings goal in each frame added into the mix. Medicine Hat ends the opening day with a 1-1 record, while Augustana falls to 0-2.
Goals:
Medicine Hat: Woodroffe-Browne 2, Batista 2, Cambiero 2, Copeland 2
Augustana: Ayache, Norton
Players of the game:
Medicine Hat: Stephen Copeland
Augustana: Johnny Johnson
Game #7 | 4:15 p.m. | KC 4 vs TKU 1
There was a lot on the line as both Keyano College and The King’s University came into their match undefeated. With both teams eyeing first place, it was the Keyano Huskies who struck for a 4-1 win in a heated match. Dorian Jacobs actually opened the scoring for the Eagles, but a pair of goals by Neto Miguel gave the Huskies a 2-1 half time lead. Ricardo Rojas then added a pair in the second half to secure the Huskies victory. Keyano is 2-0, in first place in Pool A, while King’s is now in second place at 1-1.
Goals:
Keyano: Miguel 2, Rojas 2
King's: Jacobs
Players of the game:
Keyano: Neto Miguel
King's: Nathan Smreciu
Game #8 | 5:30 p.m. | LETH 4 vs AMB 3
It came right down to the wire, but in a dramatic finish, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks earned a victory to send the home crowd home happy at the end of the first day of the ACAC Futsal Championships. Jimmy Bukuru scored with just 15.7 seconds remaining to give the Kodiaks a 4-3 triumph over the Ambrose Lions. It was Bukuru’s second of the game in a back-and-forth contest that saw Ambrose take an early second half lead. The Kodiaks scored two straight to take the lead, but Ambrose tied it up, setting up Bukuru’s late-game heroics. The Kodiaks are 2-0, tied for first in Pool B, while the Lions fall to 0-2.
Goals:
Lethbridge; Bukuru 2, Ntignee, Veluw
Ambrose: Wideman, Siebring, Reimer
Players of the game:
Lethbridge: Jimmy Bukuru
Ambrose: Lucas Reimer