Men's Soccer Huskies secure ACAC Championship berth with play-in win against Rustlers

The Keyano Huskies Men's Soccer team picked the perfect time to secure their first win of the season against the Lakeland Rustlers. 

After a loss and a draw in the regular season, which sent the two programs on a course to Tuesday's play-in game, the Huskies prevailed 2-0 to extend their season by at least three more days by earning their ticket to the 2022 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer Championship in Lethbridge and Raymond, Alta. this coming weekend. 

"[It was] a very complete game from the guys," Head Coach Niels Slotboom said. "Overall, it was exactly what we were looking for. There was a little bit of an adjustment at half time that we lacked on and the boys did it and responded to a tee." 

As the rain and darkness painted a damp and cold picture on the venue, the pressure was high from the start with several challenges and close calls on each side, including a pair of superb saves from Corbin Cyprien in the 33rd minute to keep the game scoreless through the first half. 

The challenges continued into the second half with the Huskies drawing nearer and nearer until a corner kick in the 78th minute came back out to Muhammed Jobe, with the Ottawa, Ont. product firing the ball through a maze of bodies and into the net for the game-winning goal. 

"They knew that they didn't show up for that weekend, they knew that that weekend chased them all the way to have to play this game instead of taking care of our own results and being second," Slotboom added. "They wanted to show that they were better than that and they dominated this game." 

Karl Tronche then placed a perfect free kick from the stadium-side of the field over the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper to double the lead in the 84th minute. 

"It was quite hectic," Tronche said of the pro-Huskies crowd and game play on the field. "I'm very pleased with everyone coming.

"It's always nice to score and make them stand up." 

That was more than enough offence for goalkeeper Corbin Cyprien, who stopped everything sent his way for another clean sheet on the season.  

Up next for the Huskies is a match against the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings on Friday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m. at the 2022 ACAC Men's Soccer Championships hosted by Lethbridge College.