A Grade 12 striker traded in his scoring boots to fill in as a last minute third-choice goalkeeper in a winning cause for an Okotoks high school boys soccer team.
The Holy Trinity Academy Knights (HTA) survived a minor scare with striker Tyson Fedor filling in as goalkeeper to eke out a 2-1 victory over the Highwood Mustangs, May 16 at the Highwood soccer pitch, to improve to six wins and a loss (6-0-1) in the Foothills Athletic Council (FAC).
“Our goaltender Joe Maxwell was suspended and we had someone else who would normally go in, Taylor Blackface, but he was unable to make it so they chucked me in,” said Fedor. “It was a different experience.”
Fedor, a week removed from a hat-trick performance against the Foothills Composite Falcons from his usual spot at the top of the HTA formation, got his first taste of what it’s like to stop shots in FAC action versus the High River high school. Despite a few hiccups, the temporary goalkeeper said the Knights were full value for the victory.
“They were limited to probably three to four shots and of course I let one of them in,” Fedor said. “We dominated most of the ball possession, the ball was mainly in their half, we created tons of chances.
“We were unfortunate to only get two, we were just unable to capitalize.”
HTA midfielder Chad MacPherson opened the scoring with a first-half strike from the edge of the 18-yard-box that beat the Highwood goalkeeper short side.
The Mustangs equalized in the second-half on a tally Fedor described as weak.
“(Highwood’s) Vahid Hedley just came out from the left hand side and was able to get round one or two of our guys and just took an innocent shot from inside the box right at me and it hit me in the hand and I guess I tipped it over right into the net,” Fedor said. “It was something I wish I could have back.”
Grade 12 defender Felix Hoppe restored the one-goal advantage with close to 20 minutes left on a high shot from distance just under the crossbar after a series of one-two passes were completed in the box by the Knights. Hoppe’s strike would end up being the game-winner.
The Knights will need all hands on deck as they prepare for a first-place showdown with the undefeated Canmore Collegiate Crusaders, who have six wins and a tie (6-1-0) May 23 at Riverside Park in Okotoks.
Fedor said HTA will make some adjustments to its formation in preparation for their meeting with the only team to beat the Okotoks school in 2012. “I believe we’re going to play 4-3-3 this time against Canmore so we’re going to be trying to just keep the ball at the feet and making sure we limit them with their opportunities,” Fedor said. “If we’re all on top of our game we can easily pull out a win.”
The Grade 12 student said HTA is also taking confidence from its two defeats over a Highwood team that earned a 1-1 draw with Canmore on May 9.
Meanwhile, the Foothills Composite Falcons enjoyed an up-and-down week on the pitch with a 2-1 triumph over the Mustangs on May 13 followed by a narrow 5-4 loss to the Strathmore Spartans on May 16.
“We were up 2-0 in the first 10 minutes, just came flying out of the gate then we let a couple free kicks in our own end and got a couple goals against us,” said Falcons striker Jared Nudd said of the victory over the Spartans. “Eventually the tables kind of turned on us and they took the game over and started pounding the ball into our defence and just kept scoring.”
Falcons midfielder Marc Alford put Foothills up 2-0 early followed by a penalty kick converted by Nudd and a second half goal from James Thomas.
The Falcons (2-1-4) host Notre Dame Collegiate on May 23, 4:30 p.m. kick-off at Kinsmen Park, and welcome Canmore Collegiate to the same pitch on May 28.
“We’re pretty confident going into the Notre Dame game because last time we beat them pretty good,” Nudd said of the Falcons’ 8-4 triumph on May 8. “They’re a good team, they’ve got some good players, but we feel we can go pretty far this year.”
For full schedules and results visit www.foothillsathletics.ca.
