WEEKEND RECAP | NOV 14-16

Women’s and men’s basketball sweep Huskies and Rustlers

Women
The Trojans women’s basketball team took on the Keyano Huskies on Friday, Nov. 14 at the SAIT Bubble in Calgary.

Trailing 14-11 after the first quarter, the Trojans scored 26 points in the second and held the Huskies’ offence to eight to lead 37-22 at halftime.

A strong offensive second half lifted the Trojans to a 70-46 win.

The Trojans’ offensive depth was crucial in the home win. Kitawna Sparks, Tana Iwanusiw, Kyler Varga and Ava Kearl all scored more than 10 points, with Sparks putting up a game-high 19.

The following day, the Trojans faced the Lakeland College Rustlers at the SAIT Bubble.

The Trojans came out flying, leading 31-8 after the first quarter.

They added 22 points in the second while holding the Rustlers’ offence scoreless to lead 53-8 at halftime.

The final score was 100-30 for the Trojans, capping an outstanding offensive weekend.

Trojans veteran Varga led scoring with 21 points and added four assists.

With two straight wins, the Trojans sit tied for first in the ACAC women’s basketball standings with a 4-3 record.

Next up for the Trojans is a trip to Ambrose University on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m., followed by a home matchup the next day against the NAIT Ooks at 6 p.m. at the SAIT Bubble.

Men
After an undefeated start to the season, the Trojans men’s basketball team took on the Huskies on Friday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. at the SAIT Bubble.

At halftime, the Trojans led 47-22.

A strong fourth quarter saw them score 30 points to close out an 89-61 win.

Trojans veteran Killian Yopa led the game with 18 points and recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds.

The Trojans faced the Rustlers the following day.

A back-and-forth first half had the Trojans leading 40-39 at the break.

They came out strong in the third quarter, outscoring the Rustlers 20-12 to take a 60-51 lead.

The home side held on for a 79-74 victory to improve to 7-0.

The Trojans sit in first place in the ACAC men’s basketball standings after the weekend sweep.

Next up for the Trojans is a trip to Ambrose University on Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m., followed by a home matchup the next day against the NAIT Ooks at 8 p.m. at the SAIT Bubble.

Men’s hockey split games against Briercrest

The Trojans men’s hockey team started their season 5-0 and took on Briercrest College in Caronport, Sask.

Briercest forward Jake Dale opened the scoring just 46 seconds into the game.

Austin Reschny equalized for the Trojans on the powerplay eight minutes later to tie the game at one.

Midway through the period, Justin Keck scored to make it 2-1 to Briercrest at the end of 20 minutes.

Dale scored his second of the game five minutes into the second period to put Briercrest up 3-1.

Trojans veteran Colby Ball earned a goal back for the Trojans late into the second period to make it 3-2.

Just 56 seconds into the third period, Colby Bear tied the game at three.

Halfway through the third frame, Brydon Bell scored the game winner for Briercrest to take the 4-3 win.

The two teams met again the following day in Caronport.

Goals from Cory King and Campbell Ens had the game tied 1-1 after 20 minutes.

The Trojans scored six goals in the second period consisting of six different scorers.

Veteran Zach Cain, Tanner gold and Carter Blitz all scored for the Trojans in the first four minutes of the period to make it 4-1.

Ball, Payton Kostyshyn and Brett Butz scored in the second half of the period to give the Trojans a 7-1 lead.

Five minutes into the third period, Briercrest College scored a shorthanded goal from Josh Wiens to make it 7-2.

Cain made it 8-2 38 seconds later with a powerplay goal.

McKale Paul added two back-to-back goals for Briercrest to make it 8-4.

Rookie Jace Moffat scored another third period powerplay goal for the Trojans to score their ninth goal of the game.

The final goal of the night went to Briercrest to cap the game at 9-5 for the visiting Trojans.

Cain was awarded player of the game for the Trojans after recording two goals and two assists.

With the win and loss against Briercrest, the Trojans sit second in the ACAC men’s hockey standings with a 7-1 record. The Trojans trail the 10-0 Red Deer Polytechnic Kings.

Next for the Trojans men’s hockey team are back-to-back games against the NAIT Ooks on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. in Edmonton and Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:15 p.m. at Winsport Arena in Calgary.

Women’s volleyball win two in a row, men continue losing streak

Women
The Trojans women’s volleyball team have had a solid start to the season.

The league-leading side earned two straight home-and-away wins against the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks last weekend.

This weekend, the Trojans took on the Keyano Huskies in Fort McMurray on Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.

The Trojans narrowly took the first set 25-22.

The Huskies clawed back to win the second 25-21.

Two straight set wins for the Trojans sealed a 3-1 match victory.

Trojans veteran Sarah Henriksen tied for the game high in kills with 12.

On Saturday, the Trojans earned an automatic 3-0 victory against the Lakeland College Rustlers after the Rustlers were forced to forfeit.

With two wins on the weekend, the Trojans sit in first place in the ACAC women’s volleyball standings with a 6-1 record.

Next for the Trojans is a trip to Edmonton to face the NAIT Ooks on Friday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m., followed by the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings the next day at 1 p.m. in Camrose, Alta.

Men
After two straight losses to the Kodiaks last weekend, the Trojans men’s volleyball team took on the Huskies in Fort McMurray on Friday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.

The undefeated Huskies swept the Trojans in straight sets, winning 25-21, 25-19 and 25-18.

Trojans veteran Jonah Deranger led the team with 13 kills.

The next day, the Trojans took on the Rustlers in Lloydminster.

The home side won the first two sets 25-22.

Needing a response, the Trojans took the third set 25-16 to force a fourth.

They battled in the fourth but fell 25-21, losing the match 3-1.

Trojans rookie Logan Williams led the match in kills with 15, while Alex Liao recorded 30 assists.

With back-to-back losses to the Huskies and Rustlers, the Trojans sit in last place in the ACAC men’s volleyball standings.

Next for the Trojans is a trip to Edmonton to face the NAIT Ooks on Friday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., followed by the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings the next day at 3 p.m. in Camrose, Alta.

Trojans continue hot badminton form

After a dominant first tournament in October, the Trojans badminton team competed in their second event of the season this past weekend.

Hosted by the Trojans, the tournament took place Sunday, Nov. 14 at the Synergy Indoor Sports Center in Calgary.

Women’s singles

The Trojans had three competitors in women’s singles.

Kristianna Ladine Navarro opened against Prabhleen Kaur of the Concordia University Thunder. Kaur won 21-9, 21-18 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Veteran Sienna Pricca faced Caitlin Sullivan of The King’s University Eagles in the first round and won 21-9, 21-5 to move on.

Third-ranked Trojan Emma Grabowski earned a first-round bye and met Rachel Chan of the NAIT Ooks in the quarterfinals. Grabowski won 21-9, 21-8 to advance to the semifinals.

In the other quarterfinal, Pricca was defeated 21-8, 21-9 by second-ranked Khushi Vaniya of the Ooks.

Grabowski then faced Vaniya in the semifinals and fell 21-14, 21-13 to move into the third-place match.

Grabowski defeated Thunder athlete Emma Tran to secure a bronze medal for the Trojans.

Men’s singles

Three Trojans competed in men’s singles.

First was Ice Aishte-Pitpit, who lost 21-9, 21-6 to Caleln Man of the Ooks in the opening round.

Harshit Saini defeated Isaac Jee of the Thunder 21-9, 21-15 to advance.

Second-ranked Trojan Mono Suttinon earned a bye and opened in the quarterfinals against Om Patel of the Ooks, winning 21-17, 21-8.

Saini also advanced to the semifinals with a win over Vivek Kodi of the Eagles.

Saini was then defeated by top-ranked Mahdi Ahmadi of the Eagles.

Suttinon beat Vincent Nguyen of the Eagles 21-16, 21-8 to reach the gold-medal final against Ahmadi.

In the final, Ahmadi won the first game 21-12 before Suttinon levelled with a 21-14 win. Ahmadi claimed the deciding game 21-13, giving Suttinon a silver medal.

Women’s doubles

The Trojans had two teams in women’s doubles.

Third-ranked Grabowski and Archelle Ouanao defeated Keira Brouwer and Mystery Shaw 21-8, 21-7 in the quarterfinals.

Also competing were Christelle Arcaina and Pricca, who upset second-ranked Nicole Dizon and Caitlin Sullivan of the Eagles 22-15, 21-17 to reach the semifinals.

Arcaina and Pricca were defeated by Chan and Mataia Wong in the semifinals.

Grabowski and Ouanao beat Ooks duo Sasha Iastreb and Samantha Tran 21-14, 21-15 in their semifinal to reach the final.

The Trojan pair outlasted Chan and Wong in three games to capture the gold medal.

Men’s doubles

Two Trojans teams competed in men’s doubles.

George Cho and Saini opened with a 21-6, 21-3 win over Jordan Bergeron-Meza and Lyndon Mallorca of the Burman University Bobcats.

Aishte-Pitpit and John Schumacher defeated Shawn Kim and Nakhon Lee 21-8, 21-2 to also advance.

Cho and Saini were then eliminated 21-11, 21-12 by Ooks pair Ethan Lee and Mah.

In the semifinals, Aishte-Pitpit and Schumacher were defeated 21-9, 21-7 by Raphael Motel and Jonathan Su.

Mixed doubles

Cho and Arcaina defeated Su and Smykalski in the first round 21-15, 21-19.

Top-seeded Suttinon and Ouanao earned a bye into the quarterfinals, where they faced Motel and Kaur of the Thunder. In an upset, the Thunder pair won in three games.

In the other quarterfinal, Cho and Arcaina were defeated by Matthew Wong and Vaniya of the Ooks 21-6, 21-2.

The next ACAC badminton tournament takes place Sunday, Jan. 6, 2025, hosted by Concordia University in Camrose, Alta.