MFUT | Kodiaks finish fourth at championships

March 13, 2023 – The Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s futsal team finished in fourth place at the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men’s Futsal Championships, which were hosted in Fort McMurray over the weekend.

The event featured the top three teams from both the north and south division regional tournaments held earlier in the semester. Lethbridge was pitted against host Keyano College and the SAIT Trojans in pool play, a group that might as well have been called the “group of death.” All three teams eventually advanced to the final four, with both the Huskies and Trojans advancing to the gold medal game.

It was a tough start for the Kodiaks as they dropped their opening game against Keyano 10-4 and then fell to SAIT 6-4 the following day. That put the Kodiaks into a do-or-die quarterfinal on Saturday evening, where the Lethbridge lads delivered a clutch 5-3 win over the Olds College Broncos. 

The Kodiaks couldn’t tame a relentless Keyano Husky offensive attack in the semifinals on Sunday morning, falling 10-nil. That dropped the Kodiaks to the bronze medal game against the Lakeland College Rustlers. With a medal on the line, Lethbridge held a 2-1 lead at half but the Rustlers came out hard the rest of the way, scoring three unanswered goals to take the bronze with a 4-2 victory.

First year Kodiaks Jaxon Uhl and Joel McCleod impressed throughout the weekend and were named to the tournament all-star team.

Recaps provided by the ACAC.

Friday, March 10 | Keyano College Huskies 10 vs Kodiaks 4

The Keyano Huskies Men's Futsal team opened the offensive floodgates in a 10-4 win Friday against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. to close out the first day of competition at the 2023 ACAC Men's Futsal Championship.

Caleb Kehler notched a hat trick for the Huskies as six different players found the scoresheet for the home side. Ottys Ondon, Karl Tronche, Cleisson Anklam, and Kehler's first of the game featured in the first half. 

In the second half, Joshua Fitzpatrick, Tronche's second of the game, a pair from Kehler, Anklam's second of the match, and a single strike from Muhammed Jobe featured. 

The Kodiaks split their scoring evenly throughout the game. Ethan McClelland and Vincent Dyck struck in the first half of the game. Julio Vega Sibrian and Jaxon Uhl scored for the Kodiaks in the second half. 

Uhl of the Kodiaks and Anklam of the Huskies earned Player of the Game honours for their respective sides. 

Saturday, March 11 | SAIT Trojans 6 vs Kodiaks 4

The SAIT Trojans close out Pool B action with a 6-4 win against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks Saturday morning at the 2023 ACAC Futsal Championship inside the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

Nicolas Gonzalez put up a hat trick for the defending champions while Jacob Hunter, Soliman Aria, and Kwasi Oteng also found the back of the net once each. 

Leading 1-0 at the half, the Trojans won a wild second half with a 5-4 advantage. 

Jaxon Uhl had a sensational game for the Kodiaks, scoring all four of their goals in the match. 

Kempis Junior of the Trojans and Uhl of the Kodiaks were named Players of the Game for their respective sides. 

Saturday, March 11 | Olds College Broncos 3 vs Kodiaks 5

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks picked a good time to earn their first win of the tournament at the 2023 ACAC Futsal Championship inside the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

Picking up a 5-3 win against the Olds College Broncos, the Kodiaks placed themselves into a chance to contend for an ACAC medal with a semi-final spot on Sunday. 

After the teams tied in the first half 2-2, the Kodiaks carried a 3-1 advantage in the second half to earn the win. 

Vincent Dyck had a hat trick for the Kodiaks, scoring once in the first half and twice in the second. Jaxon Uhl also joined him on the scoresheet as did Joel McLeod. 

Diego Forno had a pair of goals for the Broncos while Emmanuel Mukolo also found the back of the net. 

McLeod from the Kodiaks and Valentin Kirchner of the Broncos each earned Player of the Game honours. 

Sunday, March 12 | Keyano College Huskies 10 vs Kodiaks 0 

The Keyano Huskies Men's Futsal team marched into the championship game of the 2023 ACAC Men's Futsal Championship with a 10-0 win against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks.

Roaring out to a 7-0 lead at the half, James Bartha scored a hat trick while Josh Fitzpatrick and Hafid Arellano each potted a pair of goals.

In the second half, Cleisson Anklam, William, Ly, and Karl Tronche each scored to cap off the victory.

McMurrayite Corbin Cyprien recorded the lone shutout of the turnament in the win, guaranteeing the Huskies a spot on the podium.

Brian Sure of the Kodiaks and Ly of the Huskies each earned Player of the Game honours for their respective sides.

Sunday, March 12 | Lakeland College Rustlers 4 vs Kodiaks 2

The Lakeland College Rustlers rounded out an impressive weekend with a 4-2 win against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks to secure the Bronze medal at the 2023 ACAC Men's Futsal Championship at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta. 

Vincent Dyck and Daniel Okpala scored in the first half for the Kodiaks while Giordano Ciccacci had the lone goal for the Rustlers. The second half of the game belonged to Hani Tekheste of the Rustlers, who scored three times in the half to propel his team to the podium. 

Mauricio Rosas of the Kodiaks and Tekheste of the Rustlers were named as the Players of the Game for the match.