Soccer Queens edged by Olds in season finale

On a windy Sunday afternoon at the RDC Field, the Red Deer College Queens Soccer team were in a must win situation. A victory would send them to the playoffs. The Queens, decimated by injuries, put forth a great effort but fell 2-1 to the Olds College Broncos.

Olds College opened the scoring in the 3rd minute on a goal by Emina Arima. Shortly after, Jasmine Flett put the Broncos up 2-0 in the 4th minute.

The Queens controlled much of the play in the second half. They had some good opportunities, sending a few shots just wide of the net. In the 83rd minute Kaitlin D'Arcy got her Queens on the board and narrowed the lead 2-1. RDC showed a lot of heart but couldn't score the tying goal.

The Queens Head Coach David Colley was hoping for a different result.

"It is disappointing. We knew we had to win it coming in so we did change our formation to make it more offensive, which left holes here and there," said Colley. "With the breeze their first goal was top left corner and nobody was saving that. It was taken outside of the box, a twenty-five yarder. She (Emina Arima) can hit them but we didn't get out there quick enough to shut her down. So we're down one. The next goal was a catalogue of errors and it went in. It was too early on that quickly and it put us back."

Colley liked the push back in the second half.

"In the second half we came out and had the wind and the majority of the play was in their half," said Colley. "The wind was obviously a big factor."

The captains Krysten Strand and Chelsea Webster showed leadership today and all season.

"There were folks on the field that shouldn't be playing, the captains especially. It is a tremendous amount of pain to endure especially if you are trying to be positive and cover for people," said Colley. "They were role models and led by example. They were the first to do everything and the last to leave. My heart goes out to them because I know they were expecting more. We all were. It is really good to be associated with them. Generally speaking they adapted like pros."

It was Colley's final game coaching RDC Queens Soccer and he reflected on his time.

"I will miss it because it's been a big part of my life. Especially the recruiting which nobody sees. It's pretty much a year round job. It's an enjoyable job because you get to meet new student-athletes every year," said Colley. "I started in August of 2000. The people I have met have made my time in Canada wonderful. I love this place. I am going to miss it, but I will come to watch. I wish whoever has the job after me, all the best. It is a wonderful job to have. It's been a blast."

Riley Morey was the Queens player-of-the-game.

The RDC Queens Soccer season is now complete and the search begins for the next Head Coach.