Mixed Emotions

October 21, 2009

Interim head coach Michael (M.P.) Duxbury ended his year at the head of the NAIT women's soccer program with mixed feelings.

He was understandably happy to be selected as ACAC women's soccer coach of the year in the Northern Conference but disappointed that his talented crew missed the playoffs. With their hopes all but gone, the Ooks took a difficult 1-0 loss at the hands of the undefeated Concordia Thunder and followed with a 5-1 demolition of the Keyano Huskies.

"Concordia is the best team in the league but they're only marginally better than us," Duxbury said after a communications error led to a header that became the only Concordia goal at about 15 minutes of the second half.

"We played without our leader scorer (Leanne Kadatz) and lost Jessica Sousa after about three minutes, but we handled ourselves extremely well." He had special praise for Lisa Martin, who stepped into the difficult role left by Kadatz's absence. "The girls were wonderful ambassadors for the school. They played hard every day and never got discouraged."

Martin, in fact, scored the final goal -- last one of the season for NAIT -- in the wrap-up against Keyano.

Kadatz collected three goals to finish with a league-leading 13 on the season. Larissa Konyenbelt added her sixth of the year and Martin collected the last one.

"We cleared the bench in the second half and got every player into the game," Duxbury said. "They deserved it."