Keyano and Medicine Hat Win Alberta College Titles

Solid performances over three tournaments lead to more hardware.

03/09/2014…Fort McMurray, Alberta – Fast, furious and fun.

Since its acceptance into the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) in 2011, the sport of men’s futsal has had only two school programs win the men’s gold medal.

In 2011 and 2012 it was the Lakeland Rustlers

You may now add to this prestigious list, the Keyano College Huskies as they defended their 2013 banner with a 7-2 decision against the Rustlers this afternoon in the gold medal match of the 2014 ACAC Futsal Championships held at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre.

“It feels a little sweeter this time winning at home obviously,” said Keyano Huskies men’s futsal coach Connor Brady. “These guys have come a long way and this is truly a family atmosphere.  The mentality we were carrying through the last couple of weeks was key.”

During the three-day event held at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre the Huskies had outscored their opponents 19 goals for and only four against coming into the gold medal match.

Huskies went up 4-1 after 25 minutes of play with goals by Rodrigo Koebsch, Pedro Bianchi and two from the magical feet of Santiago Raigoza. Rustlers Stefan Cukovic put the Rustlers on the board with 22 seconds remaining.

Raigoza added two more in the second frame for his hat trick and Rodrigo Tavaras added a single.

Tournament MVP Rodrigo Koebsch of the Huskies is already looking forward to the 2015 futsal season: “This is amazing to get the title and we will keep working and win again.”

An estimated 450 fans took in the men’s gold medal final.

“We pride ourselves in our outreach programs in the community and trying to spread our knowledge of the game,” said Brady.

Rustlers coach Kevin Wagner said he was disappointed but gave credit where credit was due.

“Keyano deserved what they scored as their finishing was fantastic.”

In the bronze medal match Medicine Hat defeated Ambrose Lions 3-2.

Joining Kobesch on the All-Tournament Team were Huskies’ Santiago Raigoza and goalie Luke Arthur, Rustlers’ Stefan Cukovic and Medicine Hat Rattlers’ Jared Ursulan.

In the bronze medal match Medicine Hat defeated Ambrose Lions 3-2.

KEYANO HUSKIES: MENS ACAC 2014 CHAMPIONS Photo Courtesy: Sean McLennan

Rattlers Return to Top

Medicine Hat Rattlers won gold in the inaugural year of women’s futsal and followed that with two silver medals. They now bookend the three medals with a 2014 gold defeating Lakeland Rustlers 4-2.

“It’s fantastic…this program has been together three or four years now. This year we came with one purpose in mind and that was to win the championship and they did,” said Rattlers coach Jim Louglin.

Tournament MVP Jacie Brusky said of the win, “It can’t get any better. We went undefeated for the year and this put the cherry on the top of the cake.”

In the bronze medal game the Keyano Huskies defeated Ambrose Lions 3-0.  This is the fourth consecutive year that the Huskies have claimed the prized third-place finish.

“Clearly we wanted a gold coming in, but this morning I told the girls we could medal and I am happy with what they have achieved,” said Keyano Huskies women’s futsal coach Mike Hull.

Joining Brusky on the All-Tournament team were Huskies’ Jamie Hannigan, Rustlers Kailee Weber and goalie Ashly Griffin while Ambrose Lions’ Caitlyn Blain rounded out the selections.

MEDICINE HAT RATTLERS 2014 WOMEN’S ACAC CHAMPIONS Photo Courtesy: Sean McLennan

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