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RDP Kings and Queens soccer honour graduating players

Both teams head to playoffs next week
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RDP Kings soccer goalkeeper Jared St. Thomas poses for a picture with head coach Admir Sarcevic after their game Saturday afternoon when the team honoured their senior players at Red Deer Polytechnic. (Photo by Ian Gustafson/ Advocate staff)

Queens 5 Broncos 0

Kings 3 Broncos 3

After years of dedication to their sport, the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings and Queens honoured their senior soccer players during their last regular season games of the season on Saturday.

Both teams matched up against the Olds College Broncos with the Queens capturing a 5-0 win for their 11th win in a row and the Kings came back from a 3-1 deficit in the second half to finish the season with a 3-3 tie.

Each graduating player honoured received a plaque and their old jersey from when RDP was recognized as Red Deer College.

Fourth-year Queens defender Kayla Yeo playing in her final regular season game on the team was awesome.

“The girls performed really well it was a lot of fun and everyone was super supportive. It was a good season so it was nice to end on a high note,” she said. “I think this season as a whole will be more memorable. We’ve had a really good group of girls and we’re still going so it’s just a big season for all of us.”

The Queens finished first in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) South Division with an 11-1 record. Yeo, who is from Calgary, said if they continue to play like they have they’ll be golden by the season’s end.

“As long as everyone works hard and keeps a good mindset we’ll be all good,” she added.

She will be finishing her practical nurse diploma this year and plans on working as a nurse once she’s graduated. She still has a year of eligibility and could return for her fifth and final season next year but has not decided yet. Other seniors on the team are Alisha Coules, Jaden Humphrey, and Lexi Kowalchuk.

In the Queens’ match, Sein Furuyama scored twice meanwhile Kayla Yeo, Alisha Coules, and Corbynn Fujimoto all scored.

For the Kings, the lone senior was Lacombe’s Jared St. Thomas who has been the goalkeeper for the Kings for the last two years.

Thomas said his last regular season game with the Kings was a fun experience and hopes to carry the momentum into the ACAC playoffs next week.

“Obviously a close game. We would have loved to get the win out of it but the team rallied together. It was a fun game to be a part of,” he said.

The Kings are second in the South division behind the SAIT Trojans and hope to make some noise in the playoffs next week. St. Thomas said this season has had plenty of ups and downs but added they have a good shot at provincials.

“There’s a lot of heart on this team… We tied SAIT at SAIT so we know we can beat any team and as long as we play our game we could do well,” he said.

Next year St. Thomas hopes to play professional or semi-professional soccer somewhere while using his kinesiology diploma to work as a personal trainer in the offseason.

To summarize his time at Red Deer Polytechnic he said it’s been an interesting ride because he came here at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We weren’t able to play, weren’t able to practice, and all the classes were online. The transition of getting back in person and being able to see the guys every day it’s been really nice. I’m definitely happy to be able to finish off in person,” he explained.

Jhojanner Amaris, Arshdeep Singh, and Kaidri Bornyi all scored for the Kings in the 3-3 time Saturday afternoon.

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RDP Kings’ midfielder Arshdeep Singh battles for the ball against the Olds College Broncos Saturday afternoon at Red Deer Polytechnic. (Photo by Ian Gustafson/ Advocate staff)
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RDP Kings’ midfielder Kaidri Bornyi celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game-tying goal against the Olds College Broncos on Saturday. (Photo by Ian Gustafson/ Advocate staff)


Ian Gustafson

About the Author: Ian Gustafson

Ian began his journalism career as a reporter in Prince Albert, Sask. for the last three years, and was born and raised in Saskatchewan.
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