Providence women perfect to start MCAC season

The Providence Pilots women’s soccer team didn’t take long to make a statement during their opening match of the season.

Just six minutes into their season-opener against Canadian Mennonite University, Serena Negrich had a pair of goals, and by the time she completed her hat trick in the 20th minute, the game was out of hand with the Pilots leading 5-0.

“It makes life easy for us, at least for our coaching staff,” head coach Tory Walker said with a smile after the win.

“The team’s been showing a lot of growth. This is our first game, but through pre-season I think it showed we’re pretty primed up ready for the year.”

Negrich finished the game with four goals and was a shoe-in to be named conference player of the week. Walker praised the winger’s energy and effort. Her first two goals came as she cut in from the wide area of the field to tap home a rebound.

“Even in training she plays like that, she leads by example that way,” Walker said.

“I think when you play against a player like that, you just hate life. She’s one of those girls that constantly goes after the game and that’s why she scores so many goals like that.”

The Pilots followed up that home victory with a solid 1-0 win on the road in Brandon, as the Pilots picked up a clean six points in the opening weekend of soccer in the MCAC. Hayley Medeiros scored up the only goal of the match, heading home a late winner in the 88th minute. The game was a re-match of last year’s conference final.

“The one thing we’ve been talking a lot about is that growth mindset,” Walker said.

“Hopefully every day, every week, we’re getting better as a team.”

Providence had a competitive training camp this year, heading out West to face some of the best Canadian Colleges Athletic Association programs the country has to offer and managed to flourish. They picked up a 1-1 draw against last year’s national bronze medalists (Red River) and a 4-3 win over Olds. They also played against top-10 ranked Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, dropping a 5-0 decision.

The winners of MCAC will go on to represent the conference at the CCAA national championships.

“I thought we learned some valuable lessons in those games,” Walker said.

The Pilots’ men’s team had less luck over the opening weekend. They were competitive with CMU for 45 minutes, but two goals in five minutes early in the second half doomed Providence’s chances.

The next day in Brandon an Imran Osman marker in the 28th minute giving the visitors a 1-0 lead was answered by Zach Lamb seven minutes later.

The Pilots have a pair of matches at home this weekend, facing Assiniboine College Sept. 19 and St Boniface Sept. 20.

The Providence volleyball season will open Oct. 16.