Weekend Recap | October 25-27
Trojans sweep podium at ACAC Cross-Country Championship
In one of the greatest seasons in Trojans Cross-Country history, which included a number one ranking in the CCCA, the Trojans collected the Men’s ACAC Cross Country banner.
On Saturday, October 26, St. Mary’s University hosted the 2024 ACAC Cross-Country Running Championship.
The Trojans had four of the top five in the race.
Continuing on his astounding form, Nathan Woyessa captured first place with a 25:50 time and 3:14 pace/km.
Behind Woyessa was Yahya Jama, who finished 28 seconds after Woyessa with a 26:18 time and 3:17 pace/km for the Trojans.
Maximum Thiessen finished third with a 26:27 time and 3:18 pace/km.
Moktar Said claimed fourth place, finishing with a 26:27 time and 3:23 pace per/km.
With the win on Saturday, The Trojans men qualified for the 2024 CCAA Cross-Country Championships, taking place in Windsor, Ontario, on Saturday, November 9.
Women’s soccer fall short to Concordia, men secure bronze over Red Deer
The Trojans Women’s Soccer were looking to be perfect on the season after clinching first place in the ACAC Women’s Soccer table with a 12-0 record, earning them a first round bye in the ACAC Women’s Soccer Championships.
The Trojans matched up against the Keyano College Huskies on Saturday, October, 26.
The Huskies came off a strong 5-1 win against the Red Deer Polytechnic College Queens the day before.
After no scoring in the first and second half, the game needed extra time.
It was super-sub Tiona Paton who scored the winner for the Trojans in the 117th minute.
Left back, Amy Fallows floated a ball into the box which Paton just got her head to and past the Huskies Keeper to make it 1-0, sending the Trojans to the final against the Concordia Thunder.
Concordia finished first in the ACAC Women’s Soccer Northern Division and beat Trojans rivals, Red Deer Polytechnic College Queens 1-0, on Saturday night.
The Trojans took an early lead in the final.
In the 27th minute, a ball over the top of the Thunder defence had Rachelle O’Leary on a break away, which she buried into the bottom corner to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Despite being outshot in the first half 12-4, the Trojans were ahead 1-0 after 45 minutes.
The Thunder broke through in the 82nd minute, Emma Derechey found the back of the net off a corner kick from Vanessa Pietramala.
Pietramala added a goal of her own in the 88th minute to win the game for the Thunder and end the season for the Trojans women’s soccer team.
Three assists from fullback, Masataka Kajitani, was the difference for the Trojans as they kicked off their ACAC Men’s Soccer Playoff schedule with a 5-1 win over host, Northwestern Polytechnic College Wolves.
The Trojans started the day at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, the first game of the playoff schedule with a crisp minus six degree windchill.
Trojans centreback Carter Hunter opened the scoring in the 14th minute off a corner kick from Fabian Guzman, to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Hunter’s centreback partner, Veron Ghide, added to the Trojans’ lead three minutes later off a Makataka Kajitani free kick.
In the second half, Ryusei Ito, who was awarded ACAC Men’s all conference forward the night before, chipped the Wolves Keeper on a breakaway to make it 3-0 Trojans.
Ito added his second of the match in the 67th minute off another Kajitani assist.
In the 70th minute, the Wolves were awarded a penalty, which Trojans keeper, Teo Greco saved, the rebound fell right to Wolves attacker Ivan Romanchuk, who cut the defeceit to 4-1.
Trojans substitute, Aram Tesfaghioris made it 5-1 Trojans in the 77th minute off a back post header in the box.
Kajitani was voted player of the game for the Trojans after three assists from the right back.
The Trojans would advance to play the NAIT Ooks on Saturday afternoon.
Naming an unchanged team from the game before, the Trojans looked to advance to the ACAC Men’s Soccer Championship.
The Ooks opened the scoring in the 20th minute after a ball fell to Peter Jones outside the box off a corner kick, which he smashed past Greco.
The Trojans equalized in the 46th minute after Guzman’s shot from outside the box was deflected by a Ooks defender and into the back of the net for 1-1.
Mitchell would add another goal for the Trojans in the 87th minute off a scramble in the box which he calmly tucked away.
The Ooks had a free kick in a dangerous position at the last kick of the game. A play off the training ground saw Lungelo Napa bury a shot past Greco to tie the match 2-2, sending it to extra time.
A back and forth 12 minutes saw shots from both teams and several fouls.
It was the Ooks who broke through the Trojans and sealed the match in the 102 minute, handing the Trojans the loss and a chance to play for bronze, on Sunday afternoon.
The Trojans faced off agains the Red Deer Polytechnic College Kings for bronze, the teams split the season matchup, with the Trojans winning 5-0 at home and the Kings winning 1-0 in Red Deer.
Mitchell scored his second goal in as many games in the 12th minute, to give the Trojans an early 1-0 lead.
Not long after, a ball over the top of the Trojans back line had Kings striker, Grant Johnson one on one with Greco. Johnson tucked it past Greco into the bottom right corner to equalize for the Kings.
Despite immense pressure from the Trojans, it was level at halftime, 1-1.
Ito scored his fourth goal of the playoffs in the 65th minute to put the game to bed for the Trojans and secure the bronze medal.
Mitchell commented on the overall season for the Trojans, highlighting the ups and downs of the past three months.
“Our ability to adapt to new challenges was nothing short of impressive,” Mitchell said. “Seeing this team react whenever things didn’t go our way only made me believe in us more. Our losses made us stronger and more ready for whatever challenge was next,” he added.
Mitchell also talked about what it means to captain the Trojans and inspire his teammates on and off the pitch.
“Having the trust of the coaches and players to lead gave me extra motivation to be a better player, teammate and person,” he said.
“A quote I like to share is ‘it’s bigger than football.’ There is so much more to this game than what you see on the field,” he said. “This team is always exceeding my expectations and will always make me proud. I’m forever grateful to lead the Trojans,” he added.
“I would walk with this team into battle and smile knowing who was beside me.”
Women’s Rugby cruise to PUWRC Championship
In a season of dominance from the Trojans Women’s Rugby team, which included going undefeated all season, it was capped off by a 50-26 win over the University of Regina Cougars in the PUWRC Championship.
The first seed Trojans, first took on the fourth seed, University of Saskatchewan Huskies, on Saturday, October 26.
The Trojans took down the Huskies in a commanding 75-10 win, which sent them to the finals against the Cougars, who beat the Brandon University Bobcats 52-27 on Saturday.
In the final, the Trojans took down the Cougars 50-26.
In an undefeated season, the Trojans captured the PUWRC title. Head coach for the Trojans, Kate Kimbrell, was named as the coach of the year after leading the Trojans to an undefeated season and the PUWRC Championship.
Women’s basketball start strong, men drop both games
The Trojans Women’s Basketball team started the season strong, taking both games against Briercrest College on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, The Trojans defeated Briercrest 75-45, at SAIT.
Anegor Wol was the standout performer for the Trojans, going nine for 14 for field goals made and had seven rebounds and five assists.
Wol had 20 points on the night and was the game’s top scorer.
Kitawna Sparks also had a strong game for the Trojans. With eight rebounds and 15 points, Sparks was the team’s defensive leader that helped the Trojans to a compelling victory.
Saturday had the Trojans take another victory over Briercrest.
Once again, Wol was the top scorer for the Trojans, recording 18 points to lead the Trojans to a 77-58 win.
Brook Baker was dominant in both offence and defence for the Trojans, recording a triple double with a game high 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Trojans Women’s Basketball team now sit at 2-0 in the standings.
The Trojans Women’s Basketball team take on the Kings University Eagles on Friday, November 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the SAIT Bubble.
For the Trojans Men’s Basketball team, it was a tough start to the regular season, as they dropped both games to Briercrest on the weekend.
On Friday night, the Trojans battled and fought to the end.
Briercrest scored 34 points in the third quarter, which was enough to take down the Trojans 93-87.
Johnny Mims led the offence for the Trojans with his game high 23 points, shooting nine for 16.
The Trojans looked to bounce back on Saturday against Briercrest.
The first quester had Briercrest pull away with an early lead, outscoring the Trojans 25-6.
Francis Dogani lead the game with 24 points and nine rebounds, as Briercrest cruised to a 88-66 win, taking both games over the Trojans on the weekend.
The Trojans Men’s Basketball team are off to an 0-2 start to the season, as they take on the Kings University Eagles on Friday, November 1, at 8:00 p.m. at the SAIT Bubble.
Women’s hockey drop both games to Lakeland, men split games with Concordia
The Trojans Women’s Hockey team dropped both games to the Lakeland College Rustlers and are now 1-6 on the season.
On Saturday, the Hustlers were ahead 1-0 after the first period after a goal from Asha Petrie.
Kerya Buziak and Marleigh Mann both added goals in the second period for the Hustlers. Petrie scored her second of the game to make it 4-0 for the hustlers at the end of the second.
In the third period, Hailey Carothers made it 5-0 for the Hustlers.
The Trojans added two late goals from Lucy Ackinclose and Sydney Hollman to finish the game at 5-2.
Sunday night was a rematch at Winsport Arena, with the Trojans looking to come away with a victory.
Hollman added an early goal for the Trojans seven minutes into the game and the Trojans were up 1-0 after 20 minutes.
In the second period, Lakeland netted a power play goal to make it 1-1.
After the third period saw no scoring, Carothers won the game for the Hustlers in overtime, handing the Trojans their second loss in as many days.
The Trojans Women’s Hockey team are back in action at Winsport Arena on Friday, November 1, at 7:00 p.m. against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers.
The Trojans Men’s Hockey team looked to build on their 2-0 record with two games against the Concordia Thunder.
The Trojans took on the thunder on Friday, October 25, in Edmonton.
After the first period saw no scoring, the Trojans added two goals in the second period.
A short handed goal from Zach Cain and Ryan Neumann, had the Trojans up 2-0 after two periods.
The Thunder would come back to tie the game in the third. Ryley Morgan and a power play goal from Dylan Handell sent the game to overtime.
Isaac Leik scored the winner just 52 seconds into overtime to clinch a 3-2 victory for the Thunder.
The teams would meet again the next day in Calgary.
After taking a tough overtime loss the day before, the Trojans handed the Thunder a 5-2 loss on Sunday, at Winsport arena.
Dylan Clark scored a pair of goals in the first period to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead, but Zachery Carlson added one late for the Thunder to make it 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Zach Cox and Brandon Machado both added goals for the Trojans in the second period to make it 4-1 after two periods.
Tye Carriere scored halfway through the third period for the Trojans, followed by Handel’s second goal in as many games for the Thunder.
The game finished 5-2 for the Trojans, as they sit top of the ACAC’s Men’s Hockey standings with three wins and one loss on the season.
The men’s hockey team face off against the University of Alberta-Augustana Vinkings at Winsport Arena, on Friday, November 1, at 7:15 p.m.
Women’s volleyball drop both games to Briercrest, Men split games
The Trojans Women’s Volleyball team looked to add a win to their record in Saskatchewan against the Briercrest College.
The Trojans dropped their first game on Friday, October 25 in straight sets and were looking for revenge the next day.
After Briercrest took the first two sets, the Trojans rallied to a 27-25 score in the third set to gain momentum.
A strong fourth set from Briercrest (25-12) secured the match and both games over the Trojans.
The Trojans women are next in action against the Kings University Eagles in Edmonton, on Friday November 1, at 6:00 p.m.
On the men’s side, the Trojans took a win and a loss against Briercrest.
Friday had the Trojans take the first set, 25-22.
The rest of the match was all Briercrest, taking three straight sets 25-22, 25-10 and 27-29, to earn a win over the Trojans.
On Saturday, the Trojans dropped the first set 25-17 but rallied to win three straight sets and the match.
The Trojans men are next in action in Edmonton where they visit the Kings University Eagles on Friday, November 1, at 8:00 p.m.