Coules and RDP Queens drop Vikings at Red Deer Polytechnic

Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens continue to roll.

Five RDP student-athletes scored goals and Queens goalkeeper Abby Kokyk turned aside four shots as the home team picked up its eighth consecutive victory with a 7-0 shutout over the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings.

Kotyk (31)

"We started off very strong and kept our composure," said Mahziar Peyrow, Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Soccer Head Coach. "We weren't really forcing the goals too much and then they started adding up in the second half which was nice."

Queens striker Alisha Coules feels there are several reasons for the team's success, including putting student-athletes into situations where they can reach their potential.

"After the past few months of training together, we are starting to work as a team and we are utilizing everybody's strengths," she said. "We are moving the ball well, so the biggest thing with our team is moving off the ball and we are starting to do that. We are exploiting holes and it's working for us."

On Friday, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens competed against the Ambrose University Lions at 6 pm in Calgary. The Kings played after that game, so it was a late night returning to Red Deer and a quick turnaround for Saturday's contest. 

"The game before took a toll on us and the Queens were tired. We broke down in the back really bad," explained Peyrow. "Fatigue really set in. It's tough especially late in the season playing two games back-to-back. They probably didn't get to bed until 1:15 in the morning and it showed today." 

The Queens opened the scoring in the fifth minute.

Erica Navarro, a first-year Red Deer Polytechnic Bachelor of Science Nursing student, corralled a loose ball in front of the Vikings net and beat Augustana's goalkeeper Kristi Bignell on the right side of the cage.

Eight minutes later, Sherwood Park's Paige Kalbfleisch pushed the home team ahead by a pair of goals with a well placed strike that caught the right side of the net.

The Vikings limited the Queens' offensive opportunities for the rest of the half and headed into the break down 2-0.

Three minutes into the second half, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens went up by three when Lacombe's Jenica Swartz found the back of the net.

Then Grace Smith added to the Queens' high-powered offence. The second-year Bachelor of Commerce student used her speed up the left side and curled the ball into the top right side of the Vikings net.

Smith (5)

Swartz added her second of the afternoon and eighth of the season with a low shot.

Smith scored the Queens' sixth marker with her seventh of the season. Coules rounded out the home team's scoring in the 77th minute and the RDP Queens sealed a 7-0 win.

"A high press – no space," said Coules, of her strategy to create the goal. "I think Mahz is really on the strikers to be quick to the ball and at that point, I pressured quick for them to make a mistake and I took advantage."

Stettler's Coules was named the North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game.

Coules (9)

"Alisha has been one of the best captains that I've seen in any sport – on the field, off the field, always working with the athletes and keeping them engaged. She keeps them motivated. There are no words to explain how proud I am of her this week, receiving the ACAC and CCAA Athlete of the Week," said Peyrow.

"She was the first one to engage in the press every single time and did not give up. She turned to her teammates and encouraged them to follow suit. Most of the game the Vikings couldn't get out of their end and that was because Alisha engaged in the press."

Sydnee Dallyn received the recognition for the Vikings.

The Queens are inching closer to the season goal scoring record of 77 by an ACAC Women's Soccer team.

"The record for the team with the most goals – I think we are three away from breaking that record for all-time goals scored by a team and I'm sure we will be able to do that," added Peyrow, of the Queens' 74 goals so far in 2022/2023.

Coules credits the entire team for contibuting to the offence.

"We have a very strong front end right now. Sein, coming in from Japan, has saved us on so many occasions," she stated. "It takes a team to get it up to her and our team has worked really well together this year." 

The first place Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (8-1-0) will challenge the third seed Lethbridge College Kodiaks (5-3-1) on Saturday, October 15 at 2 pm in Raymond, Alberta.

"The Queens have to play their game," adds Peyrow. "They can't change to adapt to the Kodiaks. We have to stay positive on the field."

Then two games remain in the regular season.