Women’s basketball split games with Rattlers, men clinch playoff spot

Women

The Trojans women’s basketball team faced the Medicine Hat College Rattlers this weekend.

The teams first met Friday, Jan. 23, at the SAIT Bubble in Calgary.

A low-scoring first half saw the visiting Rattlers take a 29-21 lead.

The Trojans responded with a defensive masterclass in the second half, holding the Rattlers to just two points in each of the third and fourth quarters to earn a 50-33 comeback win.

Kyler Varga led the Trojans offence with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double to earn player of the game honours.

The following day, the two teams met again in Medicine Hat.

The Trojans led 32-31 at halftime before outscoring the Rattlers 27-14 in the third quarter and 17-13 in the fourth to secure a 76-58 victory.

Ava Kearl scored a game-high 17 points in the win.

With the two victories, the Trojans sit tied for second place in the ACAC women’s basketball South standings with a 9-7 record.

Next up, the Trojans host the city rival Ambrose University Lions on Friday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. at the SAIT Bubble.

Men

Continuing their undefeated season, the Trojans men’s basketball team took on the Rattlers on Friday night at the SAIT Bubble.

In an offensive showcase, the Trojans led 57-35 at halftime.

The home side held the Rattlers to 13 points in the third quarter and six in the fourth to cruise to a 108-54 win.

Marcus Masters led the Trojans offence with 26 points to earn player of the game honours.

The teams met again Saturday in Medicine Hat, where the Trojans secured another dominant win, 96-64, holding the Rattlers to just nine points in the second quarter.

With the two wins, the Trojans remain first in the ACAC men’s basketball South standings with a 16-0 record.

The Trojans host the Ambrose Lions on Friday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m. at the SAIT Bubble.

Women’s hockey sweep Broncos, men continue winning streak

Women

The Trojans women’s hockey team looked to get back on track with a pair of games against the Olds College Broncos.

Game one took place Thursday, Jan. 22, at Olds College.

The game’s lone goal came on the power play from veteran Korie McGill, assisted by Kaylan Easson and Lily Roberts, as the Trojans earned a 1-0 win.

The teams met again Friday at WinSport Arena in Calgary.

After a scoreless first period, rookie Alia Drummond opened the scoring just under six minutes into the second.

Roberts added another goal five minutes later to make it 2-0.

The Broncos responded with a power-play goal from Kaebree Young late in the period to cut the lead to 2-1.

With no scoring in the third, the Trojans secured the 2-1 victory.

With back-to-back wins, the Trojans sit fifth in the ACAC women’s hockey South standings with a 6-13 record.

Next up are back-to-back games against the NAIT Ooks on Friday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. in Edmonton and Saturday at 7:15 p.m. at WinSport Arena.

Men

The Trojans men’s hockey team delivered two dominant performances this weekend.

Game one took place Friday, Jan. 23, against the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder in Edmonton.

After a scoreless first period, Carter Briltz opened the scoring early in the second.

Later in the frame, Colby Ball and Brody Simpson assisted Brett Butz on a power-play goal, followed by Owen Underhill adding another late in the period to make it 3-0.

Underhill added an unassisted short-handed goal midway through the third, and Austin Reschny scored with four seconds remaining to seal a 5-0 win.

The teams met again Saturday at WinSport Arena.

Thunder forward Dylan Handel opened the scoring 34 seconds in.

The Trojans responded with four goals in five minutes from Zach Cain, Reschny, Tate Schofer and Colby Bear to take a 4-1 lead.

In the second period, Thunder forward Liam Fitzgerald scored on the power play before Travis Hensrud restored the Trojans’ three-goal lead.

Early in the third, Dallon Wilton and Ryley Morgan scored 12 seconds apart to make it 5-4.

Bear scored on the power play and Schofer added another to extend the lead before Thunder forward Nikolai Morrison made it 7-5.

Tate Yule sealed the win with an empty-net goal, giving the Trojans an 8-5 victory.

With the sweep, the Trojans sit second in the ACAC men’s hockey South standings with a 13-3 record.

The Trojans host the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings on Friday, Jan. 23, at 8 p.m. at WinSport Arena before travelling to Camrose, Alta., on Saturday for a 6 p.m. rematch.

Women’s volleyball sweep Rattlers, men split games

Women

After two straight losses to the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens, the Trojans women’s volleyball team rebounded with two strong performances against the Rattlers.

Friday’s match in Medicine Hat saw the teams split the first four sets before the Trojans claimed the deciding fifth set 15-13 for a 3-2 victory.

Saturday night at Rally Pointe in Calgary, the Trojans dominated, sweeping the Rattlers 25-16, 25-17 and 25-19 to take the match 3-0.

With the two wins, the Trojans sit tied for second in the ACAC women’s volleyball South standings with an 8-5 record and have clinched a playoff spot.

Next up are two matches against the Ambrose Lions on Friday, Feb. 6, at Rally Pointe at 6 p.m., followed by a rematch Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ambrose University.

Men

The Trojans men’s volleyball team split a two-game series with the Rattlers.

Friday’s match in Medicine Hat saw the Rattlers win in straight sets.

The Trojans bounced back Saturday in Calgary, winning the decisive fifth set 15-4 to earn a 3-2 victory.

With the split, the Trojans remain last in the ACAC men’s volleyball South standings with a 3-10 record.

The Trojans face the Ambrose Lions on Friday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. at Rally Pointe and again Saturday at 8 p.m. at Ambrose University.

Trojans futsal off to strong start against Broncos

Women

Both Trojans futsal teams opened their seasons Saturday, Jan. 24, against the Olds College Broncos.

The women delivered a dominant 5-0 victory.

Gabby Cavezza and Sofia Sporule scored, while veteran Nikki Charlton recorded a hat trick and earned player of the match honours.

Next up is the first ACAC women’s futsal tournament of the season, hosted by Medicine Hat College from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.

Men

The Trojans men followed with a commanding 10-1 victory.

Six players scored, including Finn Leblanc, who recorded a hat trick and earned player of the game honours.

The men also head to Medicine Hat College for the first ACAC futsal tournament from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.

Second ACAC tournament brings mixed results for the Trojans

The third ACAC badminton tournament took place Sunday, Jan. 2, hosted by Concordia University of Edmonton.

The Trojans were represented across all divisions, including women’s and men’s singles, women’s and men’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

Women’s singles

Sienna Pricca, Emma Grabowski and Nana Amnutkkittikul represented the Trojans in women’s singles.

Pricca opened the tournament with a first-round win over NAIT Ooks athlete Rachel Chan to advance to the quarterfinals.

Grabowski and Amnutkkittikul both earned byes into the quarterfinals due to their rankings.

Pricca’s run ended in the quarterfinals with a loss to top-ranked Melissa Roque of The King’s University Eagles, falling 21-16 and 21-19.

On the opposite side of the draw, third-ranked Grabowski defeated Samantha Tran of the Ooks 21-6 and 21-8 to advance to the semifinals.

Second-ranked Amnutkkittikul beat Thunder athlete Ella Gifford to reach the other semifinal.

Roque defeated Grabowski 21-8 and 21-12 in the semifinal, while Amnutkkittikul earned a spot in the final with a 21-4 and 21-14 win over Jenna Wong of the Ooks.

In the final, Roque won a three-game match, dropping the first 21-18 before taking the next two 21-17 and 22-20 to claim first place.

Men’s singles

The Trojans were represented by Harshit Saini, Ice Aishte-PitPit and second-ranked Mono Suttinon.

Saini was eliminated in the opening round following a three-game loss to Byron Tung of the Ooks.

Aishte-PitPit also exited in the first round, falling in straight games to Matthew Wong of the Ooks.

Suttinon earned a first-round bye and defeated Vivek Kodi 21-16 and 21-7 to advance to the semifinals.

He followed with a 21-8 and 21-14 win over Ooks veteran Om Patel to advance to the final against top-ranked Mahdi Ahmadi of the Eagles.

Ahmadi took the opening game 21-10 before Suttinon responded with a 21-16 win. Ahmadi claimed first place with a narrow 22-20 win in the deciding game.

Women’s doubles

The Trojans fielded two teams in women’s doubles: Kristianna Ladine Navarro with Pricca, and top-ranked Archelle Ouano with Grabowski.

Navarro and Pricca earned a first-round win over Eagles duo Nicole Dizon and Caitlin Sullivan, winning 21-18 and 21-18 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Ouano and Grabowski earned a bye and cruised to a 21-3 and 21-7 quarterfinal victory over Mystery Shaw and Wegner of the Eagles.

Navarro and Pricca were eliminated in the quarterfinals following a three-game loss to Prabhleen Kaur and Tran.

Ouano and Grabowski advanced to the final with a 21-18 and 21-19 semifinal win over Ella Dolan and Jenna Wong of the Ooks.

In the final, the Trojans duo dropped the opening game 21-18 to Mataia Wong and Chan before rebounding with 21-8 and 21-12 wins to capture first place.

Men’s doubles

The Trojans were represented by George Cho and Saini, as well as third-ranked pair Paul Ouano and Suttinon.

Cho and Saini were eliminated in the quarterfinals following a 21-11 and 21-8 loss to top-ranked Ethan Lee and Matthew Wong.

Ouano and Suttinon defeated Eagles duo Alejandro Deloso and James Pulido 21-16 and 21-7 to advance to the semifinals, where they were eliminated in three games by second-ranked Raphael Motel and Jonathan Su.

Mixed doubles

Three Trojans teams competed in mixed doubles.

Cho and Archelle Ouano advanced to the quarterfinals with a 21-17 and 21-12 win over Om Patel and Tran.

Aishte-PitPit and Navarro were eliminated in the opening round by Thunder duo Mattias Andersson and Cheyenne Smykalski.

Second-ranked Paul Ouano and Amnutkkittikul earned a bye before defeating Motel and Kaur in the quarterfinals. After dropping the opening game 21-19, they rallied with 23-21 and 21-11 wins.

The Trojans pair advanced to the final with a win over Ooks duo Ethan Lee and Dolan.

In the final, Ahmadi and Roque of the Eagles captured first place with a three-game victory.

The next ACAC badminton tournament is the ACAC championships, hosted by The King’s University from Feb. 21 to 22.

ACAC indoor track underway

The first ACAC Running Room Grand Prix indoor track meet took place Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton, hosted by Concordia University of Edmonton.

Trojans runner Nathan Woyessa captured the men’s 3,000 metres with a time of 8:40, finishing 30 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Alexei Fadeyiw won the men’s 300 metres with a time of 37.17.

The Trojans placed third in the men’s 4x200-metre relay with a time of 1:38 and captured first in the 4x400-metre relay with a time of 3:44.

Overall, the Trojans finished fourth in the combined team standings with 44 points.

The next ACAC Running Room Grand Prix takes place Saturday, Feb. 28, hosted by Lethbridge Polytechnic.