MSOC: Trojans beat Ooks to repeat as ACAC champions

October 30, 2022- It took extra time to get it done, but the SAIT Trojans have repeated as Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer Champions, beating the NAIT Ooks 3-1 in a rematch of last year's gold medal game under the lights Sunday night in Raymond, Alta.

The game-winning goal, courtesy of Trojans midfielder Nicolas Gonzalez (fifth year, Geomatics Engineering Technology, Calgary, Alta.) was his second of the match – scored just 11 minutes into extra time. SAIT forward Brock Mitchell (first year, Open Studies, Calgary, Alta.) widened the lead to 3-1 with a goal in the 105^th minute. He was assisted by striker Kwasi Oteng (second year, Business Administration, Calgary, Alta.).

Gonzalez also took home Player of the Game honours for his efforts. "We never gave up," he says. "We always had that belief that we could come back in this game and win it."

NAIT took the early lead in the game with an opening goal by midfielder Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto (fourth year, Personal Fitness Trainer, Fortaleza, Ceara) as he beat Trojans keeper Marko Ilich (third year, Open Studies, Calgary, Alta.) to put the Ooks up 1-nil. Neto was assisted by Cristian Lima (fourth year, Electrical Engineering Technology, Carapicuiba, Sao Paulo). Both midfielders were awarded North Division All Conference Team honours earlier in the week.

The rivalry and physicality heated up as the half progressed with four yellow cards handed out – to NAIT midfielder Peter Jones (first year, Open Studies, Edmonton, Alta.) at the 26^th minute, NAIT forward Ayomidimeji Ayolade (second year, Open Studies, Verona Veneto) and SAIT midfielder Soliman Aria (second year, Open Studies, Calgary, Alta.) in the 42^nd minute, and SAIT defender Stanley Sinaga (first year, Open Studies, Calgary, Alta.) in first half stoppage time.

An early second half push by SAIT led to the equalizer as Gonzalez found the back of the net, unassisted, in the 56^th minute.

A missed chance for the Ooks to regain the lead came in the 68^th minute, as midfielder Rodane Cato (second year, Chemical Engineering Technology, Hellshire, St. Catherine), had Ilich beat, but his shot sailed just wide of the left goalpost.

On the other end of the pitch, a diving save by NAIT goalie Ryan Gillie (fifth year, Bachelor of Business Administration, Edmonton, Alta.) in the 75^th minute kept the Trojans from taking the lead late in the game. The teams headed to extra time tied 1-1.

Yellow cards in the second half went to SAIT's Jacob Hunter (second year, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Calgary, Alta.) in the 46^th minute, NAIT midfielder Dukuly Gausu (first year, Open Studies, Edmonton, Alta.) in the 65^th minute, SAIT midfielder Tysen Chatani (fourth year, Business Administration, Calgary, Alta.) in the 78^th minute, and NAIT's Elijah Bossio (second year, Bachelor of Business Administration, Edmonton, Alta.) in the 80^th minute.

"Nothing's easy and it's not good enough to play this game with each other, you've got to play it for one another," says Trojans head coach Connor Brady. "When mistakes are made, you've got to be willing to work double for your teammates and this group did that in spades today, over and over and over again. They had each other's backs, they didn't quit."

NAIT's Cato was named Player of the Game for the Ooks.

The SAIT Trojans move on to represent Alberta at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Men's Soccer Championship Nov. 9 to 12 at Langara College in Langley, BC.

The 2022 ACAC Soccer Championships, presented by the Southern Alberta Homes Team at Royal Lepage South Country, have been 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.