Close Match Sees Medicine Hat Emerge On Top
The game started slow, both teams trying to control the ball in the midfield. Medicine Hat used their ball possession and control to mount an early offence that was snuffed out by the Trojans defense. SAIT mounted an impressive counter off of a goal kick with an odd man rush narrowly missing several opportunities.
The Trojans pressed again through set pieces but were unable to convert either chance. The Rattlers pressed back with a good run by Daragh O'Fauarthain cleared with a last-ditch effort from the Trojans defender. This turned into a corner which was headed on net and a great save from Trojan Goalkeeper Amy Offredi.
Medicine Hat gained the majority of their scoring chances through concise passing and control. Where the Trojans have implemented a fast break offence to try and take advantage of their speed.
The Rattlers make an early substitution on the 21st minute taking out Valerie te Riele for Emily Weimer.
This may have sparked the rattlers as they capitalized on an opportunity just 4 minutes later. Jordyn Bell buried the ball in the corner off a well-placed cross from Francesca Schottner.
SAIT responded by applying heavy pressure from the restart. Trojans won two free kicks just outside the penalty box, missing one and the other safely into the keeper's arms.
With 2 minutes remaining in the half Francesca Schottner made a great diagonal run past the defense, broke towards the net and slid the Rattlers second goal of the game into the bottom left corner.
With little time left on the clock the Trojans applied all the pressure they could, spending the rest of the half deep in the Medicine Hat end. The halftime whistle sounded before the pressure turned into a good scoring chance.
The second half saw more sustained pressure from the Trojans. SAIT spent the majority of the first half chasing where the second half saw the reverse. SAIT saw this pressure pay off in the 56th minute. A scramble saw Emily Fedoriak finish a cross. Unfortunately for the Trojans the referee decided that the goal was ultimately offside.
Down 2 goals, SAIT was trying to press forward leaving them slightly vulnerable at the back. Medicine Hat had a few breaks through the line which all came up empty.
Rattlers Goalkeeper Kassidy Suberlak was very active in the second half, coming out and challenging through balls, she deflected many of SAIT's chances.
Your ACAC players of the game were Chase O'Brien for SAIT, and for Medicine Hat, Kassidy Suberlak.