Kings defeat the number two seed in the nation, Queens held scoreless against SAIT
Red Deer, October 14, 2023 – The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings managed to pick up a huge three points against the SAIT Trojans who are ranked number two in the nation. The winning goal was scored by winger Ashton Chipman in the 76th minute.
On the other hand, the Queens were held scoreless and just had the one shot in their 5-0 loss to the Trojans.
Please see below for more information on each match this afternoon.
Women's Soccer – SAIT Trojans 5 at Queens 0
The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens were held to just one shot on goal as they were defeated 5-0 by the SAIT Trojans in the Polytechnic's final home game of the season.
In the early goings, the Queens were holding the Trojans to the outside and minimizing any goal chances. But as the game went on SAIT was finding the gaps in the Polytechnic's defense which led to a couple of goal opportunities that were steered aside by goalkeeper Abby Kotyk (Bachelor of Kinesiology).
The Trojans would finally get on the scoreboard after striker Meaghan Wiebe (Diagnostic Medical Sonography) was sent on a breakaway. Wiebe was able to sidestep around Kotyk and finish it into the back of an empty net to give the Trojans the early lead.
But moments later Kotyk's goal kick sent her teammate Paige Kalbfleisch (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) on a breakaway as she outran the two SAIT defenders chasing her. Kalbfleisch attempted to chip the goaltender but placed it just wide of the net.
In the early goings of the second half, Wiebe was looking for her second goal of the game but Kotyk had other ideas as she stopped the shot that came from 12 yards out. The Queens goalkeeper gave off a rebound but her team helped her out by clearing the ball away from danger.
The Trojans would add an insurance goal moments later. Off a free kick from midfielder Nikki Charlton (Architectural Technologies), Kotyk made the original save but gave off a rebound that striker Rachelle O'Leary jumped on and volleyed into the back of the net.
Wiebe continued to pepper the Queens goalkeeper with shots as she broke through the Polytechnic's defensive line and found herself on a partial breakaway but Kotyk stood tall and robbed the Trojans striker of her second goal of the match.
Wiebe would finally score her second goal of the game on her fifth shot.
Moments later, O'Leary was looking for her second of the game but Kotyk came up big once again to stop her ninth shot of the game as she dove and laid her body on the line to come up big with the save.
Striker Isabel Vega (Open Studies) would add a goal to make it 4-0 after coming off the bench in the last 15 minutes of the match. Kotyk came up with the original save on the breakaway but could not corral the rebound which Vega jumped on and finished for her 10th on the season.
The Trojans would keep adding to their goal total. This time it was O'Leary adding her second goal of the game as she squeaked one past the Queens keeper which was the final goal of the match in this 5-0 Trojans victory.
Head Coach Mahziar Peyrow explained the four senior student-athletes that were honoured following the conclusion of the match will be missed.
"They have been with us for a while now and have put everything into this program. You still see it now on the pitch even though we are lacking personnel. They still give it everything they got and do not stop which is important. It is very sad to see them go."
Those student-athletes are goalkeeper Abby Kotyk, midfielder Erica Navarro (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), defender Kayla Yeo (Open Studies) and midfielder Sofia Quinteros (Practical Nursing Diploma).
The players of the game were awarded to Queens Paige Kalbfleisch and Trojans Meaghan Wiebe who finished with two goals on the afternoon.
Both teams will be in action tomorrow. The Trojans will host the undefeated Lethbridge College Kodiaks and the Queens will head to Olds to take on the Broncos.
Men's Soccer – SAIT Trojans 1 at Kings 2
The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings knocked off the number two seed in the nation, the SAIT Trojans with a second-half goal from winger Ashton Chipman.
The first goal opportunity of the match came off a Kings free kick deep in the Trojans zone. Midfielder Ajdin Sarcevic (Business Administration) swung it into the box to his fellow teammate Njegos Bajovic (Open Studies) who headed it just wide of the top corner.
Off a corner, the Trojans would open the scoring. Midfielder Taiyo Okawa (Open Studies) swung it in from the corner but nothing was made on the original attempt. However, striker Jon Ingram (Open Studies) found the loose ball in the box and put it away for his league-leading ninth goal of the season.
The Kings would find an equalizer on a penalty shot that was well-struck by Sarcevic after his teammate Ashton Chipman (Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences) was taken down illegally in the box. Trojans goalkeeper Oliver Allen (Open Studies) guessed the right direction and even got a piece of the ball but it still found its way into the top corner.
At the half, the Kings and Trojans were deadlocked at one but shots were in favour of the Polytechnic as they had a total of four on target with the Trojans just having two.
Early on in the first half, midfielder Ryuesi Ito (English Language Foundations) just blew past his defender and raced down the sidelines into the Kings box but couldn't find the bottom corner on the far side of the net so the game remained tied at one until the 76th minute.
The Kings would take their first lead of the match off a beautiful strike from Chipman, who raced down the wing and struck it well with the ball going off the crossbar and into the back of the net which ended up being the game-winning goal.
Head Coach Admir Sarcevic said it is always a nice feeling to defeat SAIT as they are always one of the best teams in the conference.
"It does not happen very often. Last year we managed to take a point from them and this year we were able to take the full three points away from them. We are making progress but I believe the team really peaked at the right time. Last weekend we had two wins and now we have another one so it's a good feeling to have this late in the season."
The players of the game were awarded to both number twos on each team, Kings winger Ashton Chipman and Trojans right-back Jacob Hunter.
These two teams will be back at it tomorrow afternoon with the Trojans hosting the Lethbridge College Kodiaks and the Kings heading to Olds to battle with the Broncos. Both matches will start at 2 pm.