WFUT | 2024 Season Recap

The SAIT Trojans women's futsal team won gold at the ACAC Championships, defeating Lethbridge in the finals to cap off an undefeated season.

 The Trojans absolutely dominated the regular season, going 9-0-1 while scoring 83 goals and giving up just nine. Their only tie, against the eventual silver medalist Lethbridge College, foreshadowed the battle they’d end up in for gold just a month later.

 SAIT star Nicole Charlton, a member of the women’s soccer team who also won gold in the ACAC, won the south division’s player of the year. She was joined by Erin Mergen on the all-conference team.

 Head coach John Talerico was also awarded the south division’s coach of the year after leading the Trojans to the gold medal.

During the regular season, the Trojans were really only tested twice, by Lethbridge and Old’s College. In their two meetings against Prairie College, the Trojans outscored them 35-0.

 In the first game of the playoffs, SAIT played rival NAIT, who finished second in the north with a 7-3 record. Nicole Charlton won player of the game for the Trojans in their 2-1 win, giving them a spot in the semi-finals.

 After NAIT made their way back from the loss and beat Lakeland for a final four appearance, the two teams had to face off again for their chance at gold.

Once again, SAIT came out on top with a 3-1 win. Amy Fallows won player of the game for the Trojans to get them a spot in the finals.

 And in the finals, it was a matchup between the Trojans and the only team to tie them on the year, Lethbridge College. In a tense, nerve-wracking game, Saige Joseph won player of the game for SAIT as they won 1-0 to grab the gold medal.

 There are no Nationals for futsal, but the Trojans would’ve been there, just like the soccer team, if there were. After gold in futsal and ACAC gold and a spot in the Nationals for soccer, the Trojans women’s teams couldn’t have asked for much more this season.

Article written by Will Fisher, Journalism Student at SAIT