Medicine Hat College Rattlers send both soccer teams to ACAC championships

Both teams enter the tournament as the third seed from the South.

The women worked toward a long-awaited return to championship play, finishing the regular season five points ahead of the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks for the final spot in the south with a 7-4-1 record.

The men had to improve down the stretch to secure their spot, shutting out the opponents in their last four games to claim the final playoff spot on a tiebreaker.

The Rattlers had an identical regular season record with the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings.

They won the tie-break with a better head-to-head record, with a tie in September and a 1-0 win during the four-game winning streak in October.

The men are looking to build on last year’s run to the final and finish the job this time around.

Omerovic said expectations are higher with several players returning after experiencing that championship run.

“Having a clean sheet in four games and winning those must-win games shows the resilience of this group and the belief that we do belong at this stage,” Omerovic said.

The Rattlers open against the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder on Friday at 10 a.m.

The teams met twice during the preseason, and men’s captain Joao Nascimento said the experience gave Medicine Hat lessons to take into the tournament.

The Rattlers struggled to finish opportunities in both meetings, losing 3-1 and 3-0.

Nascimento, a fourth-year winger originally from Brazil, said the team has grown in confidence, energy and chemistry since the start of the season. After reaching the final last year, he said the goal is to return and win gold.

The men’s team has also benefited from veteran leadership and contributions from first-year players and new additions, Omerovic said.

On the women’s side, the focus is on making the most of a long-awaited return to championship play.

Captain Alivia Rybchinski, a fourth-year centre back from Saskatoon, said qualifying had been a goal the team worked toward throughout the season.

She said the achievement was particularly meaningful after the program had gone so long without reaching the championships.

Rybchinski, who is in her second year as captain, said the team has developed a close bond and worked together across different levels of experience.

She described the group’s closeness as 22 sisters.

She said the team is not treating the championship as simply an experience, but is preparing to compete.

The women will take a game-by-game approach, with an emphasis on staying composed and focused for the full 90 minutes.

Like the men, the Rattlers play the Thunder in their first championship game.

Concordia won a preseason game in early August against the Rattlers women 1-0.

They will square off at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

Rybchinski said both teams have changed since then, making the upcoming matchup a different challenge.

Omerovic said the women will also need to adjust to the pressure of playing on the championship stage, as it will be a new experience for many of the players.

“We are going with expectations of taking one game at a time and seeing how far we go,” Omerovic said.

For both teams, Omerovic said, success will depend on believing in the work they have put in throughout the season and staying together from the opening whistle to the final minute.

“There’s no easy games in a championship,” he said.

“These are the moments that you have to be at your best.”

The championships will be held at the Calgary Villains FC Dome, giving teams a controlled indoor environment as the late-fall soccer season continues.

Omerovic said the dome should help improve the quality of play by allowing athletes to compete without having to contend with colder temperatures or other weather conditions.

He also expects the setting to make for a better experience for fans.

Both teams are also looking forward to sharing the championship experience.

Rybchinski said the women are excited to represent the college. Nascimento said having the men’s and women’s teams qualify gives them an opportunity to support one another throughout the tournament.

Omerovic said he is proud of the work both teams have put in to reach this point and hopes they can make the most of the opportunity.

“These championships are unique,” he said.

“It’s a special moment to be a part of as a student-athlete.”

He said he hopes both teams can celebrate success by Sunday.

A win in game one on Friday sets up a Saturday semi-final game, while a loss on Friday means elimination.

Teams that make it to Saturday’s game are guaranteed to play on Sunday.

A win gives them a chance at gold, a loss puts them in the Bronze medal game.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat College Rattlers send both soccer teams to ACAC championships

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