Trojans end season with ACAC bronze

CALGARY, ALTA., (Oct. 28, 2018) — For the second straight game, the SAIT Trojans men's soccer team went to penalty kicks. This time, things went their way.

The Trojans defeated the Lethbridge College Kodiaks 3-2, in penalties, to earn their second Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) bronze medal in as many years. The medal was bittersweet, as the Trojans were upset in Saturday's semifinal 1-0 (in penalties) by the Concordia University of Edmonton.

"We wanted to send the season on a high note," said Trojans midfielder Dean Northover (3^rd year, Calgary, Graphic Communications and Print Technology), who was named a Tournament All-Star after the game. "We were down after our semifinal loss, so it was nice to come out today, play hard and go home with something."

Sunday's game started off on the wrong foot for the Trojans, who were called for hauling down a Kodiaks player in the box just three minutes into the game, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded.

Wilson Ntignee made good on the kick, putting his team up 1-0.

"That's not how we wanted to start the game, but we were able to battle back," Northover added.

Twenty minutes later, Northover tied the game up after firing a ball out of the air off a corner kick into the net.

Just before the half, SAIT went up on a confusing play that saw the Kodiaks think there was an offside call. While arguing, Trojans midfielder Johnny Hutchinson (3^rd year, Ottawa, Ont., Graphic Communications and Print Technology) grabbed control of the ball fired it into the net.

The game stayed that way until the 88^th minute when the never-say-die Kodiaks tied the game when Taylor Laviolette pounced on a rebound and kicked it past Trojans goalkeeper Marko Ilich (2^nd year, Calgary, Business Administration).

After regulation, ACAC rules say bronze medal games forego overtime and go right to penalty kicks.

In the penalty kick round, all five SAIT players found the back of the net.

After making good on their first two attempts, Lethbridge's Jimmy Bukuru sailed his shot over the net for the lone miss.

On Saturday, SAIT had two of their penalty shots stopped by Concordia keeper Adam Ziccarelli. They were not going to miss this time around.

"We learned from our penalty takers on Saturday, and we stepped up and got the job done," Northover finished.

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