Kodiaks soccer teams host final home games of ACAC season

Oct. 10, 2019 – For the first time in recent memory, all four Lethbridge College Kodiaks teams currently in action are nationally-ranked. The women’s cross country team is ranked first in Canada in the weekly CCAA rankings, while the men’s team is slotted 5^th. 

Meanwhile, the Kodiaks men’s soccer team remains in 8^th, while the women’s team returns to the rankings in 14^th place following a one-week absence. All four teams face crucial tests this weekend.  

The soccer teams will play their final two home games of the ACAC season over the next week as they attempt to lock down ACAC playoff positions.

The Kodiaks will host the Medicine Hat Rattlers in regularly-scheduled action on Sunday, before they welcome Ambrose University on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to make up games that were snowed out on Sept. 29.

Meanwhile, the Kodiaks cross country team will travel to Camrose for its final tune-up before the ACAC championships later this month. 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Kodiaks (5-1-2) vs Rattlers (3-2-3) – Noon Sunday at Servus Sports Centre field
Kodiaks (5-1-2) vs Lions (0-7) – 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Servus Sports Centre field

The Kodiaks women’s soccer team enters the homestretch of the ACAC season in sole possession of first place in the south division. A brief three-game winless streak (one loss, two ties) was snapped with a 2-0 victory in a first-place showdown against Olds College on Sunday.

The Kodiaks received a boost from veteran Vicki Noronha (fifth year, General Studies, Brooks), who scored her first three goals of the season over the weekend to tie for the team lead in that department with rookies Olivia DePasquale (first year, General Studies, Airdrie) and Khloe Jankowiak (first year, General Studies, Lethbridge). Ten different Kodiaks have found the back of the net this season. Micaela Stone (fifth year, General Studies, Lethbridge) has taken over the starter’s role in goal, playing seven-straight games; she is second in the conference with four shutouts and is tied for sixth with an .800 save percentage.

Lethbridge is jockeying for first place in the south division with Olds College, while their Sunday opponent – the Medicine Hat Rattlers – are in a three-way battle for the third and final ACAC playoff spot. The Kodiaks played Medicine Hat to a scoreless tie two weeks ago. On Tuesday, they’ll host Ambrose University and will look to repeat the effort that led to a 5-1 over the Lions on Sept. 14. 

Sunday’s game begins at noon, while Tuesday’s contest starts at 2:30 p.m. Results will be available on the ACAC website. Admission is free to all Kodiaks home soccer games.

MEN’S SOCCER

Kodiaks (5-1-1) vs Rattlers (3-4-1) – 2 p.m. Sunday at Servus Sports Centre field
Kodiaks (5-1-1) vs Lions (0-7) – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Servus Sports Centre field

The Kodiaks men’s soccer team is tied for first place in the ACAC south division with a 6-1-1 record and can officially clinch an ACAC playoff berth with a win over Medicine Hat on Sunday. 

The Kodiaks are undefeated in six games and are in a three-way battle for first place in the division with Red Deer College and SAIT. This week presents a good opportunity to pick up six points with games against the fourth-place Rattlers and last-place Ambrose University. The Kodiaks beat Medicine Hat 1-0 less than two weeks ago, and downed the Lions 7-0 in mid-September.

Jimmy Bukuru (third year, General Studies, Lethbridge) leads the south division in scoring with nine goals, while Sodiq Adekunle (second year, General Studies, Lethbridge) is tied for third in the division with six goals. Netminder Cody Ferguson (fourth year, General Studies, Lethbridge) leads the south division with six wins and five shutouts, and is second in the division with an .872 save percentage.

Sunday’s game begins at 2 p.m., while Tuesday’s game begins at 4:30 p.m. Results will be available on the ACAC website this weekend. Admission is free to all Kodiaks home soccer games. 

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING

ACAC Grand Prix #5 – Saturday at Camrose, hosted by University of Alberta – Augustana

The Kodiaks cross country team hits the trail for a final tune-up before the ACAC championships later this month. The Kodiaks head to Camrose for a Grand Prix event hosted by Augustana that will likely bring out most of the teams and runners they will face at the conference championships.

Defending national champion Sophia Nowicki (third year, Nursing, Bragg Creek) has not lost a Canadian college race in nearly two years, and she will look to once again cross the finish line in first place. Rookie Rosie Bouchard (first year, Renewable Resource Management, Okotoks) earned her first podium finish two weeks ago during a race at SAIT, helping the Kodiaks to a first-place finish.

The men’s team is also rounding into form, as Connor Jackson (second year, Business Administration, Surrey, B.C.) placed on the podium for the first time this season during the race at SAIT, finishing in second place. The Kodiaks team also placed second, as the top three teams were separated by just two points.

The women’s race begins at noon, followed by the men’s race at 1 p.m. Results will be available on the ACAC website this weekend.