2024 ACAC Women's Futsal Players of the Year
Edmonton, AB (March 9, 2024) –
North Female Player of the Year | Natalie Orellana | Keyano Huskies:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Natalie Orellana of the Keyano College Huskies has been selected as the 2023-24 ACAC Women’s Futsal North Division Player of the Year.
Orellana took a leading offensive role for the Huskies as she scored 14 goals across 10 regular season games for the Huskies, who finished the 2024 regular season with a perfect 10-0-0 record. Her top individual performance came on January 20 when she notched a hat trick in an 8-0 win against the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves. Orellana also played a key role in a Huskies’ defence that allowed just nine goals throughout the 10-game regular season.
“I think it’s something that we’ve really worked on this year is she’s always been a great player, but being able to find that consistency and doing it game-in and game-out I think that’s what we’re really starting to see now,” Head Coach Niels Slotboom said. “It’s a big step for her as a player and something that we can really build off not just in futsal, but I’m excited to see what that consistency looks like in outdoor.”
A product of Richmond, California, Orellana is in her fourth year of eligibility and is studying Business Administration. Orellana is a member of the Women’s Futsal Huskies squad that captured the Gold Medal in March 2023 and was a part of the Women’s Soccer team that earned a Silver Medal at the 2023 ACAC Women’s Soccer Championship. Orellana has also played internationally with Nicaragua’s Senior Women’s National Team. Also recognized as a member of the ACAC Women’s Futsal All-Conference Team, Orellana is a two-time member of the ACAC Women’s Soccer North Division All-Conference Team.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2024 ACAC Women’s Futsal Championship hosted by Portage College in Lac La Biche, AB.
South Female Player of the Year | Nicole Charlton | SAIT Trojans:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Nichole Charlton of the SAIT Trojans has been selected as the 2024 ACAC South Division, Female Futsal Player of the Year.
Nikki led the SAIT Trojans to a 9-0-1 record in regular season. The Trojans season was highlighted by conceding only eight goals in league play, while managing to score 83. Nikky managed to score 10+ of those goals. The Trojans placed at the top of the south division standings and go into the ACAC Futsal Championships #1 in the South.
“Nikki is a leader within the field of play and in the classroom. Always friendly and cheerful, but a fierce competitor. She has a fight in her that shows everytime she puts the Trojans jersey on and we’re so proud of her. Congratulatons Nikki!” – Lauren Kucera, Manager, Athletics & Recreation.
Nikki is a third year, studying Business Administariton, majoring in Marketing. Nikki was also a key member of the Trojans soccer team, who claimed the ACAC championship in the fall semester of 2023.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2024 ACAC Women’s Futsal Championship hosted by Portage College in Lac la Biche, Alberta.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Travis Duncan, Northwestern Polytechnic
Athletic Director
780-539-2072
tduncan2@nwpolytech.ca
Nathan Ruff, St. Mary's University
Director, Athletics & Recreation
403-254-3770
nathan.ruff@stmu.ca
Kayla Blacquiere, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
kaylab@acac.ab.ca