Recap by Lethbridge College Kodiaks
October 29, 2022 — Penalities took a toll on the NAIT Ooks, who still managed a 3-2 victory over the Keyano College Huskies to advance to the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) men's soccer gold medal match Sunday at Comet Stadium in Raymond, Alta.
The Ooks lost defenceman Javier Cassie (fourth year, open studies, Edmonton) to a red card in the dying minutes of the first half. They were left even more shorthanded after a second yellow card was assessed to defenceman Julio Umali (second year, Open Studies, Edmonton) in the 88th minute.
That leaves NAIT without both players for the final.
"So you know these are the opportunities and the moments for your players to step up because you've got some senior guys unavailable in the final," said Ooks head coach Jeff Paulus. "So the younger players get a chance to come in and help us win a championship."
That left NAIT down to nine players but with a two-goal cushion. A free kick following the Umali foul sailed wide left on a wind-whipped field.
The Ooks didn't waiver from their aggressive style despite yellow cards and they led from start to finish.
The Huskies got close in stoppage time on a goal by Huskies defenceman James Bartha (first-year, Business Administration, Chilliwack, B.C.) cutting NAIT's lead to 3-2.
Both teams had solid chances through the first half.
The first yellow card of the game was assessed in the 17th minute on Huskies forward Hafid Huaman Arellano (first year, Business Administration, Lima, Peru).
NAIT scored first at the 23-minute mark on a penalty shot by forward Matthew Zima (fifth year, Open Studies, Verona, Italy). The Ooks added to their lead in the 35th minute with Zima getting an assist on midfielder Cristian Lima (fourth year, Electrical Engineering Technology, Edmonton) boot. Lima was named the Ook's Player of the Game.
A yellow card to NAIT's Rodolfo Aguilar-Longo midfielder (third year Bachoelor of Business Administatoin Edmonton) in the 27th minute led to a free kick that soared over the goal.
At the 45th minute, a massive collision between Huskies forward Muhammed Jobe (first year, College Preparation, Barra, Gambia) resulted in the red card to Cassie.
Keyano's first goal of the game followed nearly immediately after the collision in stoppage time before the half. Huskies forward Hafid Huaman Arellano (first year Business Administration, Lima, Peru) scored with an assist from Cleesion Anklam (second year, Bsuiness Administration, Pirapo, Brazil) made it 2-1. Anklam was the Huskies Player of the Game.
NAIT, short handed, still managed to keep the pressure on though one result was a yellow card to Peter Jones in the 56th minute. The Huskies couldn't capitalize.
NAIT received another yellow card in the 73rd minute to Umali. The Huskies thought they narrowed the gap but a goal was called back for an offside.
Umali got his second yellow card and left the game in the 88th minute. Down to nine players but up 3-1. The free kick by the Huskies sailed wide left.
Huskies defenceman James Bartha (first-year, Business Administration, Chilliwack, B.C.) scored for the Huskies in the 90th minute cutting NAIT's lead to 3-2 but the clock ran out on Keyano's comeback.
The Ooks now move on to the final at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. They await the winner of tonight's 5:30 p.m. game as The Kings University Eagles take on the SAIT Trojans. The loser of that game will face the Huskies in the hunt for bronze.
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.
