Trojans exact revenge three years later

CALGARY, ALTA., (Oct. 30, 2021) - After taking numerous pictures with fellow coaches and players, SAIT Trojans head coach John Talerico made a point of getting one with Jaime McPherson, Harleen Singh and Amber Meyers.

The trio were members of the 2018 team who fell to NAIT 2-1 in overtime in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Soccer championship final held at SAIT. Fast forward to three years later, the three were able to exact revenge by beating the same Ooks team 1-0 on their home field to win the gold medal.

"This feels really good. You don't even know," said McPherson, one of the team's captains. "I think this not only proved that we are the team to come out of Alberta this year, but it was a bit of redemption. We put in the time and the work, and it showed today."

The title is SAIT's first in nearly two decades - last winning it all in the 2002-03 season. It also stops a run of 12 straight years in which a north-based ACAC team has won the trophy.

"I'm just over the moon. It's an unbelievable feeling," said Talerico while being called back for more photos. "To finally have a banner as a head coach here is huge. I am so happy for the girls and the coaching staff. Every player and every coach worked so hard this year, in every aspect."

Singh scored the game's only goal 13 minutes in when she finished off an impressive cross from teammate Meaghan Wiebe with a header past the Ooks keeper, Kailey Harder.

"I just ran in and hoped for the best," said Singh about the goal. "I was taken down and didn't see the ball go in, but I'm glad it did. Getting that early lead was big for our team."

Talerico echoed Singh's assessment of the game-winning goal.

"It was bang on with no chance for the goalie," he said. "One of the ways you win a championship is to get a goal as quality and fantastic as that was."

In the second half, NAIT applied pressure the entire 45 minutes as they looked to tie the game. It's what Talerico expected, but his team was able to do just enough to keep the Ooks at bay.

"We got a little panicky at times," he admitted. "But, we recovered by defending well so that multiple players were behind the ball causing them to panic a bit more as well."

SAIT will now move on to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship, hosted by Toronto's Humber College from Nov. 10-13.

The last time the Trojans attended a National Championship was in 2018-19 as the ACAC's wildcard. SAIT went 1-2 to finish 7th in the tournament, hosted by BC's Douglas College.

"It's an interesting comparison between this team and the team we had in 2018, but I feel this year we have a bit more depth," Talerico explained. "We're really happy to be going, but we are going to be more prepared. This team has a different pyche, so we're excited."