Women’s Soccer
A win and a loss on the weekend meant the UKC Women picked up 3 points, but fell in the ACAA standings. Entering the beginning of October sitting second in the league, the Blue Devils played host to the Rams of Dalhousie AC at Mainland Commons field in Halifax. Dal AC set up in a heavily defensive formation, using a modified 4-3-2-1 with the holding and attacking midfielders both dropping to support the back line. For nearly an hour, the Rams strategy proved effective, fending off attacks and clogging up the King’s attacking third. A strike from distance in the 54th minute from UKC holding midfielder Victoria Iatrou finally cracked the AC’s fortifications and gave King’s a 1-0 lead. Now forced to chase the game, Dal AC opened their defensive lines further, allowing center-attacking-midfielder Tia Lovegrove to score a second goal for the Blue Devils in the 90th minute, securing the win.
In Sunday’s fixture, King’s hosted the visiting Holland College Hurricanes at Wickwire turf in Halifax. Despite drawing 1-1 earlier this season in Charlottetown, King’s was considered the favourite as they boasted an unbeaten league record. A miscue in the backline provided the Hurricanes a lead with Sarah MacVarish opening scoring in the 22nd minute. Holland would double their lead three minutes later courtesy of striker Emily Courmier winning possessing in the attacking third and slotting past UKC keeper Rebecca Florean. A solo chipped goal from King’s winger, Faye Little would put the Blue Devils on the board in the 30th minute before the half. A comparatively uneventful 2nd half would see King’s push for an equalizer that never arrived. A tactical change in the 70th minute brought winger Anna Dugandzic, who had subbed off perviously, back onto the pitch in place of center back Lucy Carolan, shifting King’s formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 with Dugandzic operating as the second striker alongside Sophie Shepherd. But Holland College would find space among the back three in the 80th minute, with striker Emily LePine finding the net on a breakaway for a third Hurricane goal.
With their undefeated streak now broken, King’s falls to third in the table with 14 points in seven games. They trail Holland College (16 points in eight games) and league leaders Mount Saint Vincent University (17 points in eight games). With a game in hand, the Blue Devils are still in a strong position moving into the back half of the regular season. The UKC Women next play in the midweek against MSVU in a match that will determine who will sit top of the league going into the Thanksgiving Holiday. That game will be Thursday, October 7 at 6 p.m. on Wickwire turf.
Results
vs. Dal AC 2-0 Win
vs. Holland 1-3 Loss
Men’s Soccer
After suffering two losses at home last weekend, the King’s men’s team entered this weekend outside of the top four, with their playoff hopes in the balance. In their first match against Dal AC, the hosts struggled to find a goal for much of the match, only breaking through in the 83rd minute via center midfielder Ethan Oderkirk after an assist by substitute Jonah Cameron. Despite coming away with the win, the game was marred by a few misfortunes: A early unplanned substitution saw right back Tim Brodin forced off in the 22nd minute due to sickness and replaced by Isaac Rhynold, a pair of late yellow cards to center back, Chris Sear (72′) and striker, Kian Bowie (84′), and a penalty miss from Oderkirk after he was hauled down in the box in the 85th minute. Not without some positivity, the match did see Rylan Logan return to play in new for the Blue Devils, having missed the lost the first month to a shoulder injury.
Regrouping for Sunday, King’s faced the league leading Holland College Hurricanes at Wickwire Turf. Having endured a competitive 3-2 win the previous night against Mount Saint Vincent University, the Hurricanes entered the match presumably tired, but dangerous nonetheless. A pair of first half goals from Parker MacLeod (32′) and Mohammed Alhaj Ali (41′) of the Hurricanes saw the Blue Devils entering halftime trailing 2-0. Despite a spirited effort in the second half, King’s was unable to convert on goal as the game became increasingly stagnant through fouls. In a half that saw 13 cumulative fouls, UKC’s Chris Sear and captain Cash Layden both received yellow cards in the 61st and 76th minutes, respectively, while Holland’s Reid Peardon was booked in the 86th.
Despite the win against Dal AC, King’s still sits fifth in the standings with 9 points in seven games, but only a singular point behind the fourth place University of New Brunswick Saint John. A midweek clash against cross-town rivals MSVU, who presently sit third with 14 points in eight games will be a critical for Head Coach Jamie McGinnis‘ side, as they look to climb into the playoff picture. That match will be at Wickwire Turf on Thursday, October 7 at 8 p.m.
Results
vs. Dal AC 1-0 Win
vs. Holland 0-2 Loss
