RDP Athletics Recap
This past week, the RDP Queens Soccer team won bronze at the 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Soccer National Championship hosted by Red Deer Polytechnic at Setters Place. Both the RDP Kings and Queens Cross Country Running teams ranked in the top 10 at the CCAA Cross Country Running National Championships and the Mixed Cross Country Running team sealed national bronze. The Kings and Queens Hockey teams won their weekend series. The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens Basketball squads dropped their games to the Thunder. Both volleyball teams downed the Ambrose University Lions.
Here is a summary of the recent results:
CCAA Women's Soccer National Championship
Queens | Setters Place in Red Deer | November 5-8
When the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens entered the 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Soccer National Championship they were unranked nationally and without the services of standout McKenna Leslie due to injury, but that didn't discourage them.
The Queens, who won Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) bronze, showed tremendous heart and made program history, earning national bronze—their first CCAA medal—with a 2-1 victory over the St. Clair Saints (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Champions) at Setters Place in Red Deer.
"I can't even explain how good this feels right now," says Mahziar Peyrow, RDP Queens Soccer Head Coach. "There's so much work that goes into this for so many years. It's unbelievable."
The bronze medal match began with early adversity. In the 14th minute, a clearing attempt by a Queens defender deflected into their own net, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead. The hosts remained composed.
"The goal fueled the fire," adds Peyrow. "We've been in that situation before and came back."
With continuing persistence, the Queens knotted it up 1-1 in the 60th minute. Off a cross by Yuri Umino, Sein Furuyama delivered a well-placed header past Saints third-year goalkeeper Scotlyn Fick.
"Sein means a lot to this team," notes Peyrow. "She just went away for surgery on both knees, came back to play and she's unbelievable. She's so dangerous in the box."
Just nine minutes later, Furuyama struck again. The Visual Art Diploma student from Kobe, Japan broke away from the Saints' defenders and calmly slotted the ball past Fick, providing RDP a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
As the final whistle blew, the RDP Queens erupted in celebration.
Furuyama, named the 4imprint Queens Player of the Game, was the embodiment of perseverance. In 2022, she suffered a significant injury late in the season that derailed her participation in nationals. The next year, Furuyama only played six games. In 2024, Furuyama didn't play any games with the RDP Queens. After undergoing surgeries, she returned to the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens in August 2025, determined to make an impact.
"I couldn't play for almost two years. I had surgery on my ACL and MCL," says Furuyama, who plans to return to the RDP Queens next season. "This past August I came back to RDP and rejoined the Queens. At first, I struggled a bit, but everyone helped me. I feel so proud that I could play with the Queens and make history at nationals."
Furuyama and Umino were named 2025 CCAA Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament All-Stars. Queens goalkeeper Jessie Stewart received the CCAA Women's National Championship Soccer Exemplary Award.
Alessia Olivito, a third-year midfielder, was named the 4imprint Saints Player of the Match.
The Queens' journey to bronze was anything but easy. After a narrow 1-0 loss to the VIU Mariners in the quarter-finals, they bounced back with a commanding 5-1 win over the Brandon Bobcats. In the bronze semi-final, they edged the MSVU Mystics 1-0 to earn their shot at the podium.
In the gold medal game, the Aigles d'Ahuntsic defeated the Élans de Garneau 1-0.
More details about the CCAA Women's Soccer National Championship, including the schedule and ticket information, are available online.
CCAA Cross Country Running National Championships
Kings & Queens | Brookvale, Prince Edward Island | Saturday, November 8
The RDP Cross Country Running team (168 points) won national bronze in the Mixed Division. Both the Kings (110 points) and Queens (111 points) finished sixth at the CCAA Cross Country Running National Championships in Prince Edward Island.
Japhet Kipkosgei (26:02), a second-year member of the Kings from Kenya, ranked seventh nationally over 8 km. Julianna Chipiuk (23: 49), a second-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at RDP, finished ninth over 6 km. Both Kipkosgei and Chipiuk were named All-Canadians.
Volleyball
Queens vs Lions | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre | Friday, November 7
The second seed Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Volleyball team (4-1) defeated the fourth place Ambrose University Lions (3-3) in three sets (25-11, 27-25 and 25-13). Red Deer's Nadia McKeage (Bachelor of Kinesiology) powered the Queens' offence with 10 kills.
Maddy DeZutter (13), Marin Walton (12) & McKeage (5)
Kings vs Lions | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre | Friday, November 7
The fourth seed RDP Kings Volleyball team (3-2) defeated the second place Lions (4-2) in straight sets (25-16, 25-14 and 25-20). Netana Samia, a first-year setter from New Zealand, accumulated 27 assists and three digs for RDP.
Samia (12)
Hockey
Queens at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology | Thursday, November 6
The RDP Queens Hockey team defeated the Broncos 4-1 in Olds. Victoria Longley contributed two goals for the Queens. Camryn Ward and Hayley Kolosky added singles for the Polytechnic. Queens goaltender Elizabeth Campbell, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student, made 13 saves (0.929).
Queens vs. Broncos | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre | Friday, November 7
The top seed Queens (9-2) earned a 3-1 victory over the fifth place Broncos (2-8) at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. Addison Longmore, Avery Winchell and Mia McGregor recorded goals for RDP. Tora Ward, a Queens third-year goalie from Saskatoon, turned aside 22 shots (0.957).
Ward (32)
Kings at Concordia University of Edmonton | Friday, November 7
The RDP Kings Hockey team downed the Concordia University Thunder 6-3 in Edmonton. Dawson Leroux, Kasey Hiemstra, Ryland McNinch, Nathan DeGraves, Sean Michalevich and Holden Knights scored for the Polytechnic. Ethan Farrow, a first-year goalie from Sherwood Park, made 23 saves in the Kings' net.
Kings vs. Thunder | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre | Saturday, November 8 | 7 pm
The first place Kings (8-0) picked up a 6-5 win over the fifth place Thunder (2-6) in Red Deer. Both Carter Cormier and Nolan Doell scored twice for the Kings. Michalevich and Leroux added goals. Farrow stopped 39 shots.
Farrow (1)
Basketball
Queens at Concordia University of Edmonton | Friday, November 7
The seventh seed RDP Queens Basketball squad (1-4) was downed 74-32 by the first place Concordia University Thunder (7-0) on the road. Avery Stypula, Mia Cunningham and Yusra Abdullahi Liman contributed six points each for the Queens.
Abdullahi Liman (7)
Kings at Concordia University of Edmonton | Friday, November 7
The seventh place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Basketball team (0-5) dropped a 71-63 decision to the fifth seed Thunder (2-5) in Edmonton. Noah Simon, a six-foot-six forward from Calgary, led the Kings with 14 points.
Simon (6)