Weekend Recap: Kodiaks land upset wins on the road

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks had a big weekend of play in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) competition.  

Cross-country travelled to Camrose to compete on Saturday afternoon in the last regular season event, Grand Prix #5. Both the men’s and women’s teams came in second place overall. 

Soccer was on the road this weekend competing in Red Deer and Olds. Both teams upset Red Deer on Saturday. The following day the women’s team fell to Olds and the men’s match finished in a tie. 

Oct. 12 XC | ACAC Grand Prix #5 

The Kodiaks cross-country teams competed in the fifth ACAC Grand Prix of the season hosted by the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings. 

The Kodiaks women’s team finished second overall with 69 points, just behind Red Deer Polytechnic (32 points) and ahead of Medicine Hat College (73 points). Hannah Pilling (first year, Academic Upgrading, Cardston) led the way with a fifth-place finish and a time of 25:40. Kate Block (second year, Business Administration, Waldheim, Sask.) also had an excellent race, completing the six-kilometre event in 27:26, helping secure the teams spot on the podium. 

The Kodiaks men’s team also secured second place with 39 points, just behind SAIT (36 points) and ahead of NAIT (54 points). Owen Stewart (third year, Business Administration – Accounting, Lethbridge) was the Kodiaks top finisher, coming in fourth with a time of 28:39. Ethan Grasmeyer (second year, Natural Resource Compliance, Smithers, B.C.) also had a standout performance, finishing the eight km race in 28:52.  

Oct. 12 WSOC | Kodiaks 1 vs RDP Queens 0  

The Kodiaks women’s soccer team took on the second-ranked team in the south division, the Red Deer Queens. It was a back-and-forth game throughout the match, but Red Deer led in shots with seven in the first half. Kiara Jankowiak (second year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) stayed strong in the net for the Kodiaks and the first half ended scoreless. 

The second half saw a little more aggression from the Kodiaks on offence. The team was able to get off more shots. A late goal in the 82^nd minute from Khloe Jankowiak (second year, Business Administration – Accounting, Lethbridge) switched the momentum to the Kodiaks. They were able to hold off the Queens for the rest of the time and won 1-0. 

Players of the Game: 

LPK: GK Kiara Jankowiak 

Oct. 13 WSOC | Kodiaks 3 vs Olds Broncos 4   

The Kodiaks women’s team travelled to Olds to take on the Broncos following a hard-fought game in Red Deer. The Broncos took advantage of a slow start by the Kodiaks. The Broncos were first to score and added to it before the 30^th minute. Sophie DeMarsh (first year, General Arts and Science – Psychology and Sociology, Calgary) was able to get the Kodiaks back in the game with two back-to-back goals. The Broncos were able to sneak in one last goal to put them up before the half ended. 

The Kodiaks had to dig deep coming into the second half. It wasn’t until the 75^th minute that Megan Morrison (fourth year, Bachelor of Nursing, Medicine Hat) scored the tying goal. Unfortunately, the Broncos were able to respond and hold off the Kodiaks until the final whistle. The Kodiaks fell to the Broncos 3-4. 

Players of the Game: 

LPK: #9 Ana Waurynchuk (fourth year, Interior Design Technology, Cranbrook, B.C.) 

OLDS: #4 Alyssa Keyes 

Oct. 12 MSOC | Kodiaks 2 vs RDP Kings 0   

The Kodiaks men’s soccer team travelled to Red Deer to take on the 12ranked team on the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association’s list. It was an evenly matched game with shots going both ways in the first half. Jake Marshall (second year, General Arts and Science, Nelson, B.C.) was able to sneak one past the Kings goaltender to put the Kodiaks up in the 19th minute. The Kodiaks were able to hold off the Kings with good defence until the first half came to an end. 

Going into the second half the Kodiaks had momentum and continued to put on the pressure both offensively and defensively. Kodiaks goaltender Adam Krisko (first year, General Arts and Science, Lethbridge) was able to make huge saves for the Kodiaks in the second half which helped the Kodiaks hold onto their early lead. Emiliano Garcia Velarde (first year, Agriculture Sciences, Saltillo, Mexico) secured the Kodiaks lead in the 82^nd minute of the game with the final goal. The Kodiaks were able to upset the Kings on the road for a 2-0 win. 

Players of the Game: 

LPK: GK Adam Krisko 

RDP: #8 Eshay Fernandes 

Oct. 13 MSOC | Kodiaks 1 vs Olds Broncos 1  

The Kodiaks men’s soccer team had another game on the road against the Olds College Broncos. The Kodiaks were able to come out of the gate aggressively with a goal from Wilson Ntignee (fifth year, Business Administration, Bori, Nigeria) within the two-minute mark of the game. The Broncos were able to reset, and it was a back-and-forth game with possession. Both teams were able to get seven shots off in the first half. It wasn’t until the last minute of play in the first that the Broncos tied things back up.  

The second half of the match continued to be aggressive from both ends. The Kodiaks added 11 more shots but couldn’t find the back of the net. Defence from the Kodiaks helped limit quality shots coming from the Olds Broncos. The final whistle blew before either team could score again leaving the match as a draw of 1-1. 

Players of the Game: 

LPK: #5 Jordan Morello (third year, Natural Resource Compliance, Nelson B.C.) 

OLDS: GK Tristen Fraser