Kings have strong effort against Trojans

Brent Forster - RDC 

Red Deer, AB - The RDC Kings showed a lot of heart Saturday afternoon against the division leading SAIT Trojans. After trailing by a goal, the Kings tied the contest but the Trojans eventually picked up a 3 - 1 win. 

Entering the game, SAIT rattled off seven wins in a row but the Kings held their own against the undefeated Trojans. Even though SAIT held a 1 - 0 margin at the half, the Kings stuck with the game plan. 

Hugo Janssen (8) controls the ball (Colby Brochu Photography)

Early in the second half, the relentless effort was rewarded. RDC's Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz beat the SAIT goalkeeper to draw even. Then in the 73rd minute, the Trojans would pull ahead 2 - 1. As the Kings tried to press to tie the game once again, SAIT capitalized to deliver a 3 - 1 win.

Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz (Photo - Tony Hansen)

Kings Soccer Head Coach Wade Groenewegen was pleased with the work ethic against one of the top collegiate teams in Alberta and Canada. "It was a really good performance from our guys," he says. "We gave up the third goal late because we were pushing hard to tie it up, and I can live with that. Everyone that stepped on the field put in a complete performance."

Groenewegen especially appreciated the well-rounded game from one of his second-year student-athletes. "Matthew Elphick was our player-of-the-game," he says. "He was rock solid defensively and provided an offensive push from the back four throughout the game."

Matthew Elphick (Photo - Tony Hansen)

On Sunday, October 14 at home, the second place RDC Kings (5 - 2 - 2) will entertain the Olds College Broncos (2 - 6 - 1) at 2:00 p.m.