Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

By Scott Roblin

First Looks

Rattlers soccer teams using exhibition games as key tune up for ACAC season

Aug 28, 2019 | 12:15 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The countdown to opening kick-off is down to days for the Medicine Hat College Rattlers soccer teams and their new head coach.

Robert Cavicchia has coached his first few games for the Rattlers men’s and women’s teams, albeit mostly exhibition games against MHC alumni.

Although these games have had no impact on the ACAC standings, Cavicchia said they’re crucial for the development of his squads.

“It’s a good opportunity for our guys and girls to get out here and really showcase their talent and fight for starting spots pretty much,” said Cavicchia. “These games are important for us because they’re helping us prep for the season, we don’t have too much time to get exhibition games in before we start.”

Games over the weekend didn’t go quite as planned, as the women’s contest was played on a shorter than anticipated pitch and the men’s game was cancelled due to thunder and halftime.

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Despite the shortened looks, Cavicchia said he was impressed with what he saw.

“There’s definitely some good movement off the ball,” he said. “The teams are combining well, both teams are doing that well. What we’re working on in the training sessions is really showing out on the pitch, which is phenomenal for us to see.”

Both of MHC’s soccer clubs will be looking for big, bounce-back seasons in ACAC play.

This after the women’s soccer team finished last place in the ACAC South Division with a 2-9-1 record, while the men’s squad also was on the outside looking in on the 2018 playoff picture at 4-7-1.

Cavicchia has been working on recruiting incoming players for most of the summer and said he’s now getting his first glimpse at that talent.

“When we’re recruiting we’re sometimes only getting like two minute video clips of the players and we’re really not sure how it’s going to come together,” said Cavicchia. “So, these two or three weeks is extremely crucial because we can actually see somebody I thought might be a fullback for us all of a sudden is an attacking midfielder.”

In the hunt to return to the playoffs, the men’s soccer squad will be led by a handful of returning players like forward Colton Pacheco.

Entering his third season wearing the black and yellow, Pacheco had breakout 2018 season with three goals in 10 games.

Expected to be one of the team’s most relied upon weapons this fall, the B.C. product said the team is gelling well under their new head coach.

“He pushes us, he’s always on top of us making sure we’re giving it our best,” said Pacheco. “It’s just great.”

Medicine Hat’s women’s team has reached their goal of 18 players, although they are still open to adding more players.

According to Cavicchia, the men’s team is also close to their goal of 18 athletes.

“We didn’t have a lot of time to recruit and build the two teams,” he said. “We were starting with pretty low numbers and our numbers have jumped really high. That’s exciting, we’re still adding players as we go.”

The Rattlers will be opening their season at home, giving local fans the chance to see the new talent and returning faces.

Pacheco said they’ve put the disappointment of last season behind them and are ready to start anew at Rattlers Field.

“The team is feeling good,” he said. “We’re strong, we’re ready, ready to take the season on and show what we can do.”

Both Rattlers squads will take to the pitch for the first time on September 7 against Red Deer College with games at 2:00 and 4:00 pm, which will be followed by a pair of games on September 8 at home versus the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings.