Soccer Kings earn ACAC silver, Swartz and Neto make All-Tournament team

Brent Forster - RDC with information from NAIT Athletics

Sherwood Park, AB – After three hard-fought games at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer Championship, the RDC Kings are bringing home ACAC silver. 

The Kings gave another strong effort Sunday evening, but the Lethbridge College Kodiaks picked up a close 2-0 win in the gold medal game.

The snow and wind picked up, creating challenging playing conditions, but both teams were ready to compete. In the 18th minute, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks opened the scoring when Owen Beers beat Kings goalkeeper Austin Langdon.

In the second half, the Kodiaks increased their lead. ACAC Player of the Year Ben Knight sent a high cross into the box and Jimmy Bukuru capitalized, giving the Kodiaks a 2-0 lead in the 81st minute. The Kodiaks were able to fend off the Kings' offensive push for the remainder of the game, winning ACAC gold. 

The NAIT Ooks defeated the SAIT Trojans 4-2 in the bronze medal game. 

Both the Kodiaks and the Kings have qualified for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Soccer National Championship at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario, from November 6-9.

The players of the game were RDC's Kristofer Grobmeier, a Bachelor of Education Secondary student, and Lethbridge College's Ben Knight. Knight was also named to the All-Tournament team along with Owen Beers, Nathan Swartz (RDC), and Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto (RDC). Dave Low from the Kodiaks was named Tournament MVP.

Nathan Swartz - All-Tournament team

Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto - All-Tournament team