Tommies host the ACAA soccer playoffs
The St. Thomas Tommies soccer program was fortunate enough to host the ACAA playoffs to finish off both teams’ regular seasons.
With both teams qualifying for playoffs, the men’s and women’s sides are both going to enjoy the benefits of home-field advantage.
In ACAA soccer playoffs, the top four teams in regular season play are the ones to qualify, meaning the semi-final games are on Saturday where the fourth ranked team plays the first, and the third and second ranked teams play after, with both winners advancing to the finals on Sunday.
In the women’s game, the Tommies played the top ranked Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics and unfortunately fell short in a 3-1 loss, but battled through what was a close match throughout.
In the women’s finals between the MSVU Mystics and the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves, the Mystics were able to secure a spot in the national championship, winning the game 1-0.
On the men’s side, the Tommies took care of business against the Mystics in their semi-final game, gliding to a 3-1 win with the Holland College Hurricanes in their sights for the finals.
Come Sunday, not only were the Tommies focused on securing their second ACAA gold medal in two years, but the fans also came out in record numbers to support the home side.
As the game began, the young Tommies side put the visiting Hurricanes under pressure by playing with pace on and off the ball, forcing errors and going up 1-0 before the halfway point.
With hundreds of fans in attendance, the bleachers were packed with students and supporters bringing energy to the game.
“Good to see the boys put on a show, Brett scored an absolute banger, and more opportunities to come, let’s get a big win,” says John Hunter, former Tommies captain, assistant coach, and avid supporter of the program.
“We just gotta keep pressing them. These guys can’t hang with us, so just keep pressing them and getting them nervous and do what we need to do,” says Matteo Neves, Tommies reserve player.
The second half starts slower than the first, with the Tommies showing fatigue and frustration as the Hurricanes begin controlling more possession.
The Tommies start looking worse as the injuries start to pile up. Crucial starters like Josh Oakes, Nick Landry, Chidubem Nkoloagu and more are taken out of the game.
Using their momentum, the Hurricanes are able to notch a goal past the reigning league champions to tie the game at 1-1.
Towards the end of full-time, more players begin to tire and feel minor injuries. This slows the game down and leads us into extra time as neither side can break past the 1-1 tie.
Despite the game slowing, the crowd remains as energetic as ever, emphatically chanting “up the Tommies!”
The men take the pitch again after finishing 90 minutes of play to endure another 30, with a break halfway between.
Even with a historic crowd cheering the home side on, a mistake along the defense gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead in the first half of extra time.
While it seems like the game cannot get any worse for the Tommies, starting midfielder Gray Cyr receives a red card in the second half of extra time giving Holland College an 11-10-man advantage.
Physically and mentally exhausted, losing late in the game, and crucial players injured is enough for most teams to give up in a match, but not for the Tommies. Elias Stiphout in the closing minutes of the game scores from a corner kick, tying the game 2-2 and sending the game to a penalty shootout.
Through a lack of composure and several injuries to usual Tommies kick takers, the Hurricanes win the shootout, securing their victory of the ACAA men’s soccer banner.
“I think in general we stick our game plan for all the game, and I just think at the end we went pretty badly because we had six guys on the ground and it went wrong for penalty, I just think we miss our chance with that, but in general I’m pretty happy with our season,” says Nathan Bellemare, Tommies backup goalkeeper.