Men's soccer wins third straight silver

October 27, 2008

Needing to win three games in three days, the men's soccer team went into last weekend's ACAC provincials with a tough task ahead of them.

The men defeated the Lethbridge Rattlers 3-2 in extra time on Friday with a goal from midfielder Joel Wickens and a pair of goals from forward Freddy Akok.

The following day the team squared off against the south division champions, the SAIT Trojans. After 120 scoreless minutes, the game was decided in a penalty shootout with NAIT defeating SAIT 3-2. Forward Freddy Akok and midfielders Joe Asarfo-Adjei and Brent Anderson scored for the Ooks in the shootout. Goalkeeper Chris Rarog earned the shutout in the match.

In Sunday's championship final, the Ooks found themselves up against bitter rivals, the Concordia Thunder. Leading 1-0 at the half on midfielder Chris Hatala's goal, fatigue began to catch up to the Ooks as Concordia equalized early in the second. As regulation time expired and the Ooks entered extra time for the third consecutive game, playing what was essentially their fourth of the weekend minutes-wise, the Thunder scored the golden goal shortly after the start of the extra frame to win the championship and advance to nationals.

This is the third straight provincial silver medal for the NAIT Ooks men's soccer team, and their fifth straight appearance in the provincial championship final.

Six of the team's starters were either unable to finish Sunday's match or play in it at all.

"I am extremely proud of these lads and the effort and commitment they all made to our program," said head coach Jeff Paulus following the match.