Last season could be considered a breakthrough, but the Lethbridge College Kodiaks soccer teams feel the 2019 season might be even better. In 2018, both the women’s and men’s teams played in ACAC medal games in the same season for the first time in program history, with the women’s squad earning a bronze medal.
Both teams return the core of those squads and are supplemented by impressive recruiting classes that have the coaching staff optimistic that this could be the year of the Kodiaks.
“I think we’re even deeper this year than we were last season,” says Kodiaks co-head coach Sean Carey of the women’s team that earned just the second ACAC medal in program history in 2018. “I feel it's a really good balanced team and if we can keep injury-free, we should be making a lot of noise again this year.”
On the men’s side, the Kodiaks still feel the sting from a penalty-kicks loss in last season’s ACAC bronze medal contest. But most of the players from that team are returning, and Carey has also lured three former ACAC all-stars – goalkeeper Cody Ferguson, midfielder Braydon Jetten and defender Joel Arrieus – back into the Kodiaks fold, giving the team a formidable roster and a lofty goal.
“Nationals is our expectation,” says Carey. “We feel this is the deepest team we’ve ever had and we're not going to micromanage them. We're going to give them direction and the game plan, but then we’re going to let them loose to go out and play.”
A strength for both teams is the experience of the shared coaching staff. Carey enters the third year of his second stint with the Kodiaks, and last year was named ACAC coach of the year in both the men’s and women’s conferences – the first person ever to achieve both those honours in the same season. He’s joined by Mark Pries, who was promoted to co-head coach over the summer after spending the past eight seasons as an assistant.
The Kodiaks open the ACAC season at home this weekend. On Saturday, the Kodiaks host the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings, with the women’s game at 2 p.m., followed by the men’s contest at 4 p.m.
On Sunday, the Kodiaks get a visit from Red Deer College, with a noon kickoff for the women’s game and a 2 p.m. start for the men’s match. All games are at the Servus Sports Centre field, located just north of the Lethbridge College campus.
Learn more about the Kodiaks at gokodiaks.ca and follow along all season on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. High-quality photos are available to download from the Kodiaks Flickr account.
CO-HEAD COACHES:
Sean Carey (co-head coach, third year, 2019 ACAC men’s and women’s coach of the year)
Mark Pries (co-head coach, first year head coach, ninth season on staff)
ASSISTANT COACHES:
Justin Lariviere, Kim Schellenberg, John D’Agnone, Nikki Furukawa, Robyn Gieske (trainer)
2018 REGULAR SEASON:
6-4-2, 20 points, third in ACAC south division
21 GF (fourth in south division), 12 GA (second in south division)
2018 LEADERS:
Goals: Vicki Noronha (6), Bryce Sherring (5), Kayla Kehoe (4)
Wins: Brittany Klein (3), Paige Gattafoni (3)
2018 PLAYOFFS:
Beat The King’s University 2-1 in quarterfinal
Lost to SAIT 3-0 in semifinal
Beat Concordia 2-1 in penalty kicks to earn ACAC bronze medal
DID YOU KNOW?
The Kodiaks 2018 bronze medal was the program’s first ACAC medal in 24 years
KEY RETURNEES:
Brooklin Bellavance (fourth year, defence, Ecosystem Management, Medicine Hat)
Jasmin Salmon (third year, midfield, Business Administration, Medicine Hat)
Christine Moser (third year, defence, Massage Therapy, Whitehorse)
Vicki Noronha (fifth year, midfield, General Studies, Brooks)
KEY ADDITIONS:
Micaela Stone (fifth year, goalkeepers, General Studies, Lethbridge)
Ashley Sazalski (first year, forward, Nursing, Lethbridge)
Darrianne Holmes (first year, striker, Nursing, Calgary)
Haylie Shoults (second year, striker, Massage Therapy, Williams Lake, B.C.)
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Khloe Jankowiak (first year, midfield, General Studies, Lethbridge)
Jankowiak possesses a dangerous shot that she delivers with both power and accuracy. A Catholic
Central grad, she also brings a tenacity to the pitch that will give other teams fits. Carey expects her
to be a leader in her freshman season.
SEASON OUTLOOK:
The Kodiaks surprised the ACAC with their bronze medal effort last season, and intend to once again
challenge for conference hardware. Carey focused hard on recruiting and has brought in a half dozen
players who are expected to play key minutes in their first seasons as Kodiaks. Added to a strong
returning core that is very strong defensively, and with an improved offense, the Kodiaks are
positioned to challenge at the top end of the conference this season.
COACH IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“Our top players last year carried us to that bronze medal and were thoroughly deserving of it.
Outside of a couple of players, we have our main starting 11 back and with all these new additions,
we’re excited to get them on the field and see a lot of positives.”
– Sean Carey
LISTEN:
CO-HEAD COACHES:
Sean Carey (co-head coach, third year, 2019 ACAC men’s and women’s coach of the year)
Mark Pries (co-head coach, first year head coach, ninth season on staff)
ASSISTANT COACHES:
Justin Lariviere, Kim Schellenberg, John D’Agnone, Nikki Furukawa, Robyn Gieske (trainer)
2018 REGULAR SEASON:
7-3-2, 23 points, second in ACAC south division
30 GF (third in south division), 20 GA (second in south division)
2018 LEADERS:
Goals: Wilson Ntignee (13) – 2nd in ACAC, Jimmy Bukuru (8), Ben Knight (3)
Wins: Kohl Wandyka (7)
2018 PLAYOFFS:
Beat The King’s University 3-1 in quarterfinal
Lost to NAIT 4-0 in semifinal
Lost to SAIT 3-2 in penalty kicks in bronze medal game
DID YOU KNOW?
The Kodiaks have played in an ACAC medal game in three of the last six seasons after playing in a
medal game only once in the previous 10 seasons.
KEY RETURNEES:
Ben Knight (third year, midfield, General Studies, Manchester, England)
Dave Low (second year, defence, General Studies, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England)
Jimmy Bukuru (third year, midfield, General Studies, Lethbridge)
Tyler Bolen (third year, defence, Business Administration, Brooks)
KEY ADDITIONS:
Cody Ferguson (fourth year, goalkeeper, General Studies, Lethbridge)
Joel Arrieus (fifth year, defence, General Studies, Cardston)
Braydon Jetten (fourth year, midfield, General Studies, Lethbridge)
Jaden Veluw (fourth year, defence, Nursing, Lethbridge)
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Easton Beaulieu (first year, striker, General Studies, Lethbridge)
On a veteran-filled squad, don’t be surprised if it’s a freshman who stands out. Beaulieu has filled the
net with regularity in the pre-season and Carey expects that to continue in ACAC play. A Catholic
Central graduate, he uses speed, soccer IQ and tenacity to create opportunities on the pitch.
SEASON OUTLOOK:
One penalty kick short of a medal last season, the Kodiaks return the bulk of that squad and add an
impressive list of recruits – including three former ACAC all-stars (Ferguson, Jetten, Arrieus) and a
former U Sports standout (Veluw). Beaulieu is expected to fill the offensive gap left by the departure of
leading scorer Wilson Ntignee, giving the Kodiaks an impressive roster that should be in the mix for
an ACAC championship.
COACH IN HIS OWN WORDS:
“We have five or six guys who refuse to lose. They’re willing to take the team on their shoulders and
lead the way, and the younger players will recognize that and know they have to elevate their own
games.”
– Sean Carey
LISTEN: