Kodiaks capture season opener over Queens at Red Deer Polytechnic

Brent Forster - RDP Athletics

Red Deer, AB - The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Soccer team found themselves down early against the visiting Lethbridge College Kodiaks Friday afternoon and couldn't battle back. The Kodiaks eventually sealed a 4-0 road win.

"It wasn't our game. We didn't play the way that we usually do," said Mahziar Peyrow, Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Soccer Heach Coach. "Maybe it is first game jitters for some of these girls. For some, it's their first game in the ACAC. Next time, we just have to come out more prepared."

The visitors struck only 34 seconds into the contest. Lethbridge College's Olivia DePasquale, a midfielder from Airdrie, lofted a high shot that eluded the outstretched hands of Queens goalkeeper Danyelle Bouvier, a first-year Bachelor of Nursing student from Lac La Biche.

The Kodiaks continued to press and on their sixth shot they went up 2-0. First-year Krista Van Diemen, a Criminal Justice Policing student, picked up a loose ball in the Queens' zone and fired it into the top left corner in the 26th minute.

Before half-time, the Kodiaks tacked on their third marker. Nanaimo's Kylie Bolton found open space in the upper part of the Queens' net for a 3-0 lead.

Over 45 minutes, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens tested the Lethbridge College Kodiaks goalkeeper Cailey Lister five times.

Nearly three minutes into the second half, Gillian McCrimmon extended Lethbridge College's lead to four.

The Queens' offence couldn't solve Lister and the Kodiaks wrapped up a 4-0 decision.

First-year Sofia Quinteros, a Bachelor of Science Nursing student, was named the North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game. Quinteros generated some offensive opportunities with five shot attempts and she played well positionally. 

"Sofia did well. She was there in the middle when we needed her," explained Peyrow. "Defensively, she slipped in the back in between the centre-back, sometimes to save us as well as to support the play up front in their attacking third which was nice. She moved the ball well, so she did her job today."

Quinteros

Olivia DePasquale received the honour for the Kodiaks.

DePasquale

The Kodiaks tested Bouvier 16 times. Lister turned aside all 12 of the Queens' shots.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (0-1) will host the Olds College Broncos (1-0) on Sunday, September 26 at noon.

Peyrow identified some areas for the Queens to focus on in their second game. 

"There's a few things we want to work on – move the ball sooner, release the ball sooner, find those gaps and attack a lot sooner," said Peyrow. "This is the ACAC. The girls see the pace and we need to keep our pace up. If we move the ball a little sooner then the press isn't on from the other team and we are able to get into their end."