By Scott Roblin

Rattlers split double-header with SAIT Trojans on Sunday

Sep 24, 2017 | 7:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Following a trip north at Olds College on Saturday, the Medicine Hat Rattlers soccer teams were back at the ‘Snake Pit’ on Sunday hosting a pair of top teams in the SAIT Trojans.

Beginning with the women’s game, the Rattlers were looking for a big rebound after being handed their first loss of the season by the Broncos on Saturday.

Things started out slowly on Sunday, with both teams getting a few scoring chances but both goaltenders standing tall.

Medicine Hat broke through in the 24th minute off a cross from midfielder Francesca Schottner, which eventually found Jordyn Bell who scored her third of the season to put the Rattlers ahead 1-0.

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

With just a few minutes remaining in the opening half, Schottner found some space on the run and buried her second goal on the year to double Medicine Hat’s lead to 2-0 before the break.

SAIT had thought they scored their opening goal in the 56th minute thanks to Emily Fedoriak, but the referees ruled that the Trojans were offside on the play.

In the final 15 minutes of the game SAIT applied plenty of pressure with the Rattlers pinned in their own zone, but Medicine Hat netminder Kassidy Suberlak came up big with some timely saves to clinch the 2-0 shutout victory.

Suberlak had an excellent game with 23 saves, marking her second clean sheet of the season and was named Rattlers player of the match.

She said it was a much needed victory, especially due to how the team lost against Olds College the day before.

“We needed this one, it was a tough loss [Saturday] but we knew we could beat both of them,” said Suberlak. “It was just a hard loss, but we knew that today we had to win and we did it.”

Suberlak added the team weathered the Trojans storm well in the second half, with her and the defenders relying on each other.

“We were able just to stay calm and be confident with each other,” she said. “Obviously, they trust me enough to make that huge save at the end there. But, they knew I could do it and I know if I make a save, they’ll be there for the next one if I’m still on the ground.”

The Rattlers ladies now see their 2017 record improve to 3-1-1 and are tied with Olds College for second place in the South Division behind the previously undefeated Trojans.

On the men’s side, Medicine Hat was trying to maintain their undefeated record to start the season, but were facing another unbeaten team in the Trojans.

SAIT struck first in the game’s 35th minute, with defender Romel Ayerdis giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead in the opening half.

That score was carried over to the second half, with the Trojans scoring early courtesy of Dean Northover to make it a 2-0 deficit for the Rattlers.

That goal spelled the end of the day for Rattlers goaltender Devin Simon, who left the game with two goals allowed on six shots.

The goaltending change didn’t seem to help the Rattlers cause however, with Northover scoring his second of the match in the 66th minute.

Rattlers midfielder Forkpa Sumo ended SAIT’s hopes of a clean sheet in injury time, but the Trojans easily held on for a 3-1 win over Medicine Hat.

The loss was Medicine Hat’s first of 2017, seeing their ACAC record fall to 3-1-1 on the year and sit alone in second place in the division.

It’s a road trip for the Rattlers next weekend, as they head down Highway 3 for a rematch against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks on Saturday.