Providence Pilots undefeated in MCAC opening weekend
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A busy weekend of action to kick off the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference season saw both the men’s and women’s Providence Pilots soccer teams post strong results.
Both teams went undefeated, with the men’s team drawing last year’s champion University of St Boniface Les Rouges 1-1 Sept. 6 before a 4-2 win at Assiniboine College the next day.
While Les Rouges were on the front foot for most of the match, a great goal on the counter from senior Rashard Hibbert gave the Pilots an early lead. The defending champions were able to find an equalizer, they were mostly kept away from dangerous chances, with goalkeeper Santiago Vasquez making a key late save to preserve points.
The women’s team conceded an early goal to St Boniface, before storming to a 4-1 win. A 4-0 second half performance rolled over to Brandon, as the Pilots demolished Assiniboine 10-0 Sept. 7.
The game against Les Rouges was a tale of two halves, as Providence’s attacking players finally found some space down the wings of the attacking third after getting bottled up in the first 45 minutes.
“I wasn’t to sure why were playing so complicated in the first half,” head coach Tory Walker said after the USB game.
“I liked how the team responded… I’m proud of how we made adjustments in the second half and once we got one then it seemed to all come together.”
The blowout win over Assiniboine has the top five goal-scorers on the MCAC season so far all from Providence, with freshman Hannah Degueldre and junior Halle Owen both posting three goals in the first weekend of action. Degueldre is from just down the road in Niverville.
The games Sept. 6 were part of Providence’s 100th anniversary celebrations, with campus tours, live music and food trucks completing the festivities.
Providence’s soccer teams continue with a busy opening to their season, visiting Brandon University Sept. 13 before taking on Canadian Mennonite University at home Sept. 14.