Trojans earn hard fought Play-In victory

CALGARY, ALTA., (Oct. 25, 2022) - The defending champs are in.

The SAIT Trojans women's soccer team hosted the Olds College Broncos Tuesday afternoon in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference's (ACAC) newly added play-in game, and took one step closer to repeating as league champs, as they defeated their guests 2-1 at SAIT's Cohos Commons Field.

SAIT will now move on to the ACAC Women's Soccer Championship, hosted by Lethbridge College, this weekend. Game 1 will go Friday afternoon against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. Last season, the Trojans earned their first ACAC title since 2002 and are not keen to wait another two decades to raise the trophy again.

The game started with the Trojans controlling the play. Their hard work paid off in the 20th minute when Emma Ward fired a shot from distance that just avoided the outstretched hands of Olds keeper Kaia Galushka.

Nikki Charlton added what would turn out to be the game winner in the 45th minute off a scramble in front of the net.

Despite being down two goals, the Broncos did not quit. They frustrated the Trojans with their counter attack in the second half, and were finally rewarded when Kami Tams kicked in a loose ball right in front of the net to cut the SAIT lead in half with 18 minutes left to play.

SAIT decided to hang on to the ball and watched as the clock wound down to close out the victory.

Kams was named Player of the Game for the Broncos, while Gillian McCrimmon earned the honour for SAIT.