MSOC: TKU Eagles shut out Kodiaks in quarterfinal action

The King's University (TKU) Eagles punched their ticket to the semifinal round of the 2022 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer Championships Friday afternoon in Raymond, Alta. with a 2-nil quarterfinal win over the host Lethbridge College Kodiaks. 

The Eagles, second seed from the ACAC north division, jumped out to an early 1-nil lead with midfielder Gabriel Ferreira (third year, Business, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais) scoring in the 15th minute. Kodiaks goaltender, Trey Lukye (second year, Criminal Justice – Policing, Duchess, Alta.) made the initial save but the spinning ball found its way across the line. 

TKU kept the pressure on but wouldn't find the net again in the first half, thanks in part to a 28th minute save by Lukye who got a hand on the shot to tip it up and over the net. The Kodiaks followed up with a few good scoring chances late in the first but couldn't find the back of the net. 

One yellow card was handed out in the first half – to Eagles head coach, Todd Van Driel in the 31st minute. 

An unassisted goal by Eagles midfielder, Dorian Jacobs (fourth year, Arts, Edmonton, Alta.) in the 58th minute made it a 2-nil game. The play was followed by a yellow card to Kodiaks forward Ethan McClelland (first year, General Studies, Brooks, Alta.). 

Two more yellow cards were handed out late in the game, in the 89th minute, to Kodiaks defender Charlie Block (second year, Business Administration, Lethbridge, Alta.) and Eagles centreback Ethan Easaw (first year, Kinesiology, Edmonton, Alta.). 

"I think a lot of our play had to come from our midfields, a lot of our domination was going to come from our midfield," says Eagles head coach Todd Van Driel. "We knew that they were going to come in with four midfielders and we were going to be a man down, but if we could manage the battle in the midfield, we can allow our backs to really just go off. I think that really worked." 

Players of the game honours were handed out to Eagles centreback Rennan Labanca Vasconcelos da Silva and Kodiaks striker Mauricio Rosas. 

The King's University Eagles move on to play the SAIT Trojans at 5:30 p.m., Saturday at Comet Stadium in Raymond. Friday's loss marks an end to the Kodiaks season.  

The 2022 ACAC Soccer Championships, presented by the Southern Alberta Homes Team at Royal Lepage South Country, are hosted by Lethbridge College at Comet Stadium in Raymond, Alta. All tournament information can be found online. Additional photos from this game can be found on the Lethbridge College Kodiaks Flickr page.