Composed Soccer Kings defeat Lions on the road

Brent Forster - RDC

Calgary, AB - The Red Deer College Kings controlled a large percentage of the game against the Ambrose University Lions, and despite the Lions making a push late the Kings held the fort for a 3 - 2 road win. 

The RDC Kings applied pressure early in the opening half but it was Austin Carter, of the Lions, who struck first in the 11th minute. The Kings eventually responded seven minutes later. Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz, a first-year forward from Brazil, connected on an arcing shot to even the contest 1 - 1. In the 45th minute, Timmo van Klaveren sprung Colin Purnell who scored from a sharp angle past Jared Zimmer for a Kings' 2 - 1 lead.

The Kings kept pressing. Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto beat Zimmer for an important 3 - 1 cushion in the 80th minute. Then in the 88th minute, a pass unfortunately wound up in the Kings net and brought the Lions within a goal (3 - 2). Ambrose University tried to use that goal as momentum and attempted to even the game, but the RDC Kings remained strong for the 3 - 2 victory. 

Kings Soccer Head Coach Wade Groenewegen appreciated the RDC student-athletes' abilities to persist after getting down to an energized Lions team. "Ambrose University was definitely excited for their home opener. We had good pressure and possession early but they sprang Austin Carter," says Groenewegen. "We maintained a good amount of pressure but we weren't quite executing the way that we would like to. Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz scored on a nice volley and not long before the half Timmo van Klaveren went on a run and slotted the ball through for Calgary's Colin Purnell who rounded the keeper, and scored from a sharp angle for a 2 - 1 edge at the half."

Despite the Lions inching closer in the game, Groenewegen was pleased with the Kings playing with composure and earning the win. "We were dangerous throughout the second half but we weren't quite finishing," he says. "Ambrose found some energy and launched everything they had at us, but the boys held on and stuck to our tactics. Antonio Suhalj played well and was great coming off the bench in the second half. We were not as organized as we would like and our execution was not where it needs to be. So we will look to improve in our next game." 

Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz was named the Player-of-the-Game for the RDC Kings. 

With the victory, the Red Deer College Kings hold second spot in the Alberta College Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer South Division with 13 points. The SAIT Trojans (5 - 0 - 0) lead the south with 15 points.

Sunday, September 30, the Red Deer College Kings (4 - 1 - 1) will entertain the fifth place Lakeland College Rustlers (0 - 4 - 1) at 2:00 p.m. at the RDC Main Field.