Queens and Broncos tie in home opener

Brent Forster - RDC

In the first two games of the season, the Red Deer College Queens Soccer team played with heart, applied a lot of pressure on their opponents but weren't always rewarded on the scoreboard. On Saturday, the Queens wanted to set the pace against the Olds College Broncos in their home opener and were rewarded early. The RDC Queens came out quickly and led by 2 goals at the half, but inconsistencies allowed the Broncos back into the game. Olds picked up their energy in the latter half and tied the game 2-2. 

Kayla Kaip was the starting goalkeeper for the Queens while Auslin McDaniel-Perrin was in net for the Broncos. The Queens hit the field with enthusiasm and quickly struck in the 2nd minute. Corrinn Graham, a student-athlete from Winnipeg, beat Perrin to open the scoring. Teryn Wright, a Bachelor of Kinesiology student, picked up the assist. The RDC Queens continued to push and in the 26th minute Reesa Garez put her squad up by a pair. The Queens controlled most of the play and their efforts resulted in a 2-0 lead at the half.

A few minutes into the 2nd half, Olds had one of their best opportunities to score but Kaip turned aside the strike with an outstretched save. On a penalty kick, Broncos midfielder Rachel Brodie scored low to the left side in the 59th minute to narrow the gap by a goal. Momentum began to swing in favour of Olds College. Brodie picked up her 2nd goal for the Broncos low to the left side in the 80th minute. To halt the Broncos' momentum, Erin Gill took over in the Queens goal. The RDC Queens came close to taking the lead in the latter stages of the game but they couldn't find the back of the net.

Queens Head Coach Esad Elkaz liked the opening half but thought an opportunity to win the game slipped away. "We had so many chances to score. It's a little bit mental thinking a 2-0 lead is an easy game but we have to fight for it. A game is played for a full 90 minutes. This team is physically ready to play," said Elkaz. "We have many first year players and they are trying to find the chemistry. The first half everything worked well - the passes, the crosses. We have to figure out the mental aspect of the game - when we have to step up and finish the game." 

Queens defender, Krysten Strand wants the Queens to learn from the tie. "In the first half we felt pretty confident, then we sat back and thought that we had the game. With experience that will come," said Strand. "We have to keep pushing and every goal matters. We had so many opportunities to be up but sat back."

Strand, a 5th year Bachelor of Arts student, is one of the leaders on this Queens team. "I try to help the new players coming in. We try to get the girls talking before the game and get the nerves out early," said Strand. "Tomorrow, we need to forget about what happened today, restart, come out stronger and realize that the second half is more important than the first."

Adama Soumah was named the Queens player-of-the game while Kyra Mueller picked up the honour for the Broncos. Soumah had 1 shot on goal and worked hard.

Kaip turned aside 2 shots while Gill didn't have any Broncos' shots to contend with in the 9 minutes she played. Perrin was the busier goalkeeper and stopped 9-of-11 shots. Kayla Yeo created some good opportunities for the Queens and tested Perrin 3 times.

The RDC Queens (0-0-3) will face the SAIT Trojans (2-0-0) on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at the RDC Field.