A total of 18 teams and more than 300 athletes will converge on Lethbridge College as the Kodiaks host the 2019 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) men’s and women’s futsal championship. The event runs from Friday to Sunday in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium, with both championship tournaments taking place concurrently.
“We are uniquely positioned to host this fast-paced and exciting championship, and we’re proud that the ACAC has once again chosen Lethbridge College to host a championship tournament,” says Todd Caughlin, manager of Kodiaks Athletics. “To have both the women’s and men’s tournaments under one roof will just add to the atmosphere and excitement and will be a great showcase for the sport. We hope it will help create a new wave of futsal fans in southern Alberta.”
The men’s and women’s tournaments will include nine teams each; each team will play three or four round robin games over two days. Semifinals and the championship games will take place on Sunday, March 17. Futsal has been an ACAC sport since 2012, and this will mark the third season that the Kodiaks will be involved. The Kodiaks women’s team is the defending ACAC silver medalist.
“To host the championships on our home floor is a tremendous boost,” says Sean Carey, Kodiaks men’s and women’s futsal head coach. “In a short time we have already built our teams into conference contenders and I’m excited to see how the players react to the opportunity to showcase themselves at home. It will be a great weekend of action!”
This marks the third straight year that Lethbridge College has been chosen to host an ACAC championship tournament. The Kodiaks hosted both the women’s basketball and indoor track championships in 2017 and the men’s basketball championship in 2018.
“I’m proud that the ACAC recognizes that we can host a successful tournament that puts the student-athlete experience first,” says Caughlin. “We pride ourselves on running championships that are exciting, unique and professional, and we look forward to proving it once again as we host the conference’s futsal elite.”
Round robin games begin at 8:30 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday, with action running throughout the day. The playoff games take place on Sunday.
The Kodiaks women play at 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on Friday, and at 12:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. The full women’s schedule and result can be found on the ACAC website.
The Kodiaks men play at 9:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. The full men’s schedule and results can be found on the ACAC website.
Weekend passes are $40 for adults and $25 for seniors, youth and Lethbridge College alumni. Day passes are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, youth and Lethbridge College alumni. Admission is free for all children under 12 and all Lethbridge College students and employees (with a valid ID card). All tournament information is available at gokodiaks.ca/futsal.
Learn more about the Kodiaks and follow the build up to the 2019 ACAC Futsal Championships at gokodiaks.ca, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
LISTEN: Kodiaks futsal coach Sean Carey previews the upcoming season:
Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s futsal team
2018 ACAC championships results: 2-1 in round robin, beat Augustana 1-0 in semifinal, lost 3-0 to Medicine Hat in championship game, WON ACAC SILVER MEDAL
Coaches: Sean Carey (head coach, third year), Mark Pries, Kim Schellenberg, Justin Lariviere, Cody Ferguson, Aimee Santangelo, Robyn Gieske (head trainer)
Head coach in his own words: We’re extremely excited to be chasing a banner on our own floor. The players are prepared and ready for the challenge that awaits them.
Players to watch:
- Christine Moser - Christine is an exceptional futsal player and has a great feel for the game. Her awareness of what's going on all the time on the field is of a high level, and she always poses a threat offensively.
- Vicki Noronha - Vicki is finishing her fourth season with the Kodiaks and has grown into a really effective futsal player. Her link plays and ability to hold up the ball until she receives support is great. She has a unique ability to work tirelessly on both sides of the ball.
What to keep an eye out for this season: The team is a strong mix this season of new players and those who return from last season’s silver medal winning squad. Now that the team has played multiple tournaments, the coaching staff feels like it has a really good feel for this group and are excited to let them loose at the ACAC championships.
Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s futsal team
2018 ACAC championships results: 0-3 in round robin, missed the playoffs
Coaches: Sean Carey (head coach, third year), Mark Pries, Kim Schellenberg, Justin Lariviere, Cody Ferguson, Robyn Gieske (head trainer)
Head coach in his own words: The men’s team is looking to avenge a below par finish at last year’s championships. The Kodiaks are coming in hungry to show the home crowd what they are capable of.
Players to watch:
- Ben Knight - Ben is the captain of the Kodiaks and is one of the most skilled players in the conference. His ability to hold up the ball and fend off defenders will be a huge asset for setting up the attacks.
- James Britton – A local product, James is exciting to watch on the futsal court. He has a really strong read of the game and finds pockets of space all over the floor. He also possesses a strong finishing ability that will be key if the Kodiaks are to enjoy success at the championships.
What to keep an eye out for this season: The Kodiaks have a really strong offensive balance and have numerous players that can find the back of the net with ease. This will be critical when it comes to the tight games that generally happen at championships.