OOKS BEAT UP ON DEPLETED VOYAGEURS’ SQUAD

LAC LA BICHE – The Portage College Voyageurs Men's Soccer squad might want to consider dressing up as skeletons, mummies or zombies when Halloween rolls around next month. Then again, maybe not. They likely don't want to relive the nightmare that has been the injury-plagued ACAC soccer season so far. An undermanned squad was no match for the powerhouse NAIT Ooks on windy Sunday afternoon, losing 9-0 at the Bold Center Soccer Field.

Already dressing a lineup with no healthy subs available, the Voyageurs were forced to make a goalie substitution at half time, putting in the injured Mukire Kiroro for the second half – even though playing goal was not part of his résumé.

"He's never played goalie with us in the years that he's been here but he's an athlete, he's a soccer player so he knows positioning and made some very good saves," said Head Coach Kika Mukuninwa. "He played hurt but in net he can at least move side to side. He did a good job."

The Ooks played a strong game, led by their equivalent of the Legion of Doom: Pedro Neto (four goals), Matt Zima (three goals, four assists) and Cristian Lima (two goals), with Zima taking Player of the Game honours. Tata Mugisha put in a solid effort for Portage and was named Player of the Game for the Voyageurs.

As they prepare to face off with Northwestern Polytechnic next weekend in Lac La Biche, Mukuninwa is planning on tweaking the preparation schedule, to allow his walking wounded a little more time to recover. He knows it will be important for his players to be ready physically and mentally for a couple of tough matches with their Northwestern rivals.

"The boys played hard today" said Mukuninwa. "Despite the score line, I think people in the stands saw their work rates and their efforts and now we just hope that we recover physically for next weekend's matches."