WSOC: NAIT advances past SAIT after penalty kicks

October 28, 2022- It took penalty shots to decide the winner of the quarterfinal game between the NAIT Ooks and SAIT Trojans at the 2022 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Soccer Championships Friday night at Comet Stadium in Raymond, Alta. In the end, NAIT edged past SAIT thanks to three goals on penalty kicks at the end of extra time for a final score of 4-3. NAIT goaltender Kailey Harder (fourth year, Advanced Care Paramedic, Edmonton, Alta.) earned Ooks Player of the Game honours for her stellar play not only in net but as a penalty kick goal scorer. 

"We came into it with a really, really good mindset," says Harder. "And we always say we're going to come in and work our hardest." 

A victory in the win-or-go-home knockout round, means NAIT will move on to play the No. 1 seed in the North Division, Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder, in semifinal action at 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

The opening goal came from SAIT winger Harleen Kaur Singh (third year, Business Administration, Calgary, Alta.) late in the first half on a free kick in the 39th minute. Singh hit the top corner, beating Harder to make it 1-nil for the Trojans. 

A chance at the equalizer followed just minutes later as Ooks defender Eleni Stamatakis (fifth year, Personal Fitness Trainer, Edmonton, Alta.) was awarded a penalty kick in the 42nd minute. A big save by SAIT goalie Erin Mergen (second year, Business Administration, Calgary, Alta.) kept NAIT off the scoreboard.  

In the second half, a quick unassisted goal in the 49th minute by NAIT midfielder Rayna Hamieh (fifth year, Advanced Care Paramedic, Edmonton, Alta.) tied the game at 1-1. 

SAIT's Emma Ward, named to the South Division All Conference Team, missed a chance at the go-ahead goal in the 57th minute – firing her penalty kick just wide of the left goalpost.  

Much of the action in the second half was in the NAIT end as the Trojans pressured to take the lead. A gutsy save by the Ooks goalkeeper in the 85th minute kept the game tied when Harder charged the ball and smothered it. 

Extra time saw chances at both ends of the pitch and a yellow card to Ward in the 18th minute.   

"I think our team's ability to stay positive and battle no matter what adversity we faced, (was instrumental)," says NAIT head coach Alesha Weicker-Pasternak. "We had some challenges that were thrown at us throughout the game and the girls did well to battle together and overcome those obstacles throughout." 

SAIT's midfielder, Jasmin Salmon (fifth year, Primary Care Paramedic, Medicine Hat, Alta.), was named Player of the Game for her efforts.  

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