WFUT | Kodiaks claim fourth at championships

March 13, 2023 – The bounces didn’t go as planned for the Lethbridge College Kodiaks women’s futsal team over the weekend, as they competed hard but finished in fourth place at the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Futsal Championships in Fort McMurray.

The Kodiaks played every game tight but just couldn’t get the lucky break to carry them through to a piece of glory. The team went winless in pool play against two strong opponents, falling 6-4 to the host Keyano College Huskies and 4-3 to the SAIT Trojans to open the tournament. 

The Kodiaks needed a breakthrough in a do-or-die quarterfinal and they delivered, coming back from down 2-1 to defeat The Kings’ University Eagles 7-4.

Advancing to the semifinals against the Huskies, the Kodiaks were hungry for revenge but the hosts and eventual ACAC champions proved to be too much, as Keyano prevailed 5-2. 

In a rematch of last year’s bronze medal game, the Kodiaks took on the NAIT Ooks. In a spirited affair, it was NAIT who prevailed 4-3 despite a desperate late surge from the Kodiaks, which included Lethbridge hitting the post with just seconds remaining. 

Olivia DePasqale and Nikki Stahl were named tournament all-stars for Lethbridge.

Recaps provided by the ACAC.  

Friday, March 10 | Keyano College Huskies 6 vs Kodiaks 4  

The Keyano Huskies Women's Futsal team clinched a spot in the semi-finals with a 6-4 win against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks at the 2023 ACAC Futsal Championship at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

Splitting up their scoring evenly, the Huskies scored three times in each half with six different goal scorers. Felicia Rodney, Marissa Mestre, and Blanca Palavecino all scored for the home side. Malorie Hanson answered back for the Kodiaks with their lone goal of the half. 

In the second half, Nathalie Andersson, Natalie Orellana, and Emma Bendera scored for the Huskies. The Kodiaks responded with three goals of their own, with Nikki Stahl scoring twice and Meaghan Welby also finding the back of the net. 

Hanson took home Player of the Game honours for the Kodiaks while Mestre earned them for the Huskies. 

Saturday, March 11 | SAIT Trojans 4 vs Kodiaks 3

After being on the wrong end of a one-goal game Friday, the SAIT Trojans turned their fortunes around with a 4-3 win against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks at the 2023 ACAC Women's Futsal Championship inside the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

"It was critical from jsut a mindset," said Trojans Head Coach John Talerico. "It was a tough loss yesterday, but today it was a good turnaround. 

"I thought we played more disciplined type of style and it was just good to play that way; to get back to our normal." 

Nicole Charlton scored twice for the Trojans in the first half while Amy Fallows rounded out the three-goal performance for the defending ACAC Champions. 

Nikki Stahl had the lone response for the Kodiaks in the opening half, though the Kodiaks would make things close in the second half. The Kodiaks had Jayna Timinski and Malorie Hanson find the back of the net, but an Emma Ward goal put the Trojans on top for good in the match. 

Charleton of the Trojans & Brooke Krowchuk of the Kodiaks claimed Player of the Game honours. 

Saturday, March 11 | TKU Eagles 4 vs Kodiaks 7

The Lethbridge Kodiaks are through to the semi-finals at the 2023 ACAC Women's Futsal Championship following a 7-4 win against The King's University Eagles Saturday afternoon. 

"I'm so thrilled for the girls," said Kodiaks Head Coach Sean Carey. "I felt like the last two games is some of the best futsal we've played all season and we just didn't get the right side of the results. 

"The girls wanted it so bad and I think they got out of the game today what they deserved." 

Six different Kodiaks scored in the win-or-go-home victory, highlighted by a pair of goals from Jayna Timinski. Taylor Hrycun of the Kodiaks and Demaris Hodges of the Eagles swapped goals in the opening half before the wild conclusion. 

In the second half, Timinski scored her pair while Aimee Tiemstra notched a pair in favour of the Eagles. Michaella Freiha also found the back of the net for the Eagles, but the Kodiaks would receive goals from Malorie Hanson, Meaghan Welby, Megan Morrison, and Olivia DePasquale to secure the win. 

Kenley Matishak of the Kodiaks and Lexa Steenhof of the Eagles earned Player of the Game honours for their respective sides. 

Sunday, March 12 | Keyano College Huskies 5 at Kodiaks 2

The Keyano Huskies Women's Futsal team is headed to the championship game of the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Futsal Championship following a 5-2 victory against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

Scoring three times in the first half and twice in the second, the Huskies also held their opponents to just a single goal in each half. 

Emma Bendera, Rofyda Khaleel, and Blanca Palavecino scored for the home side while Olivia DePasquale responded for the Kodiaks. 

In the second half, Felicia Rodney and Madison Tyson scored for the Huskies while Kenley Matishak provided the lone goal for Lethbridge. 

Kendra Metz collected the victory, her third of the tournament. 

Nikki Stahl of the Kodiaks and Palavecino of the Huskies took home Player of the Game honours for their respective sides. 

Sunday, March 12 | NAIT Ooks 4 vs Kodiaks 3 

The NAIT Ooks claimed the third spot on the podium at the 2023 ACAC Women's Futsal Championship Sunday with a 4-3 win against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks. 

Toni Burse scored once in the first half and once in the second, providing the game-winning goal as her team's only offence in the second half. 

Alana Mawhinney and Kadie Sinclair also scored in the first half for the Ooks. 

Malorie Hanson scored the Kodiaks lone goal of the first half, while Nikki Stahl and Megan Morrison scored in the second half for the South Division squad. 

Meaghan Welby of the Kodiaks and Burse of the Ooks were named the Players of the Game for their respective performances.