Trojans fall to bronze medal bracket at Nationals
COQUITLAM, BC, (Nov. 7, 2018) — The SAIT Trojans women's soccer team's first trip back to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship in 16 years did not start off as planned.
The Trojans were handed a 6-0 loss at the hands of the Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association (OCAA) champions Fanshawe College Falcons in their opening contest at the event, hosted by Douglas College in Coquitlam, BC.
"I thought we did some things well," said Trojans head coach, John Talerico. "We were ready and set, but they're a very good team. They are experienced, and work hard as a unit. I'm proud of our team for not giving up, though. We played hard right until the final whistle."
In their loss on Wednesday, the Trojans were matched up against the newly-crowned CCAA Women's Soccer Player of the Year in Jade Kovacevic. She did not raise any doubts about the decision, as she scored five times in the game to set a new CCAA National Championship record for goals in one match.
"When we gave her an inch, she took a mile," Talerico conceded.
Stephanie Middlemiss added the final Falcons goal in the 90th minute to cap the victory.
SAIT now falls to the bronze side of the bracket, and Talerico says that is now what his team is focused on.
"The leaders on our team got the group together a had a bit of a chat. The sentiment now is to make sure we leave here with something," he said. "Is it nice to be here? Yes. But now it's time to compete and they realize that."
On Thursday, the Trojans will meet the host Douglas College Royals, who were beaten 4-0 Wednesday night by Quebec's Elans de Garneau. Game time is set for 12:30pm PST.
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