Rustlers Soccer Weekend Recap - September 25

Lakeland's soccer squad both were on the losing end of 1-0 finals on the road, before splitting the result on Sunday.

The women faced off against the NAIT Ooks in Edmonton, after a 0-0 draw the week prior. While the first half was scoreless, the Ooks were able to capitalize for a goal and take the season series.

On Sunday at VLA Fields, it looked like the Rustlers were about to go the distance, until the ACAC's top North Division squad was finally able to overwhelm the home side.

Lakeland's squad looked determined to stay with the top seeded Thunder, managing to stave off Concordia's pressure for much of the game. While the Thunder had a disproportionate number of shots, the Rustlers were able to limit the quality in their opponent's scoring chances in the first half, aside from one strike off the cross bar.

In the second, Concordia kept pressing and was finally awarded in the 76th minute, when Breanna Callender capitalized off a ricochet from a cross to put her team up a goal. In the dying minutes of the game, Madison Gamache added to the lead, with an assist from Kira Lauder.

Amber MacLean was Player of the Game for the Rustlers, while Denae Michie was the Thunder's POG.

The Rustlers men's team had also tied the Ooks a week prior, when they came from two goals down. This time, both teams were scoreless after the first half, but the Ooks came away with the only goal in the second half.

On Sunday, the men benefited from an early goal in an important bounce back game.

Following a tough 1-0 loss on the road to NAIT, the Lakeland Rustlers faced another challenge with a Concordia Thunder team desperate for a victory. Both teams traded chances in the first half, but the home team was able to capitalize on a nice cross from Yassin Hassen to Nathan Tran.

Following the first half, the Rustlers defence held strong as they defended the 1-0 lead till the final whistle. Gavin Quinlan won Player of the Game for his strong two-way play, while Concordia Keeper Rostyslav Leha earned the same honour for keeping his team in the game in the second half.

Next for the Thunder is a home tilt against the Keyano Huskies on Oct. 1, while the Rustlers host the King's Eagles.