YORKTON - The Sacred Heart Saints Boy’s soccer team finished their season this recently, (Oct. 29 and 30), bringing home a silver medal from the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association 4A Soccer Championships in Moose Jaw.
“The boys had to overcome several challenges leading up to even qualifying for a chance to compete at provincials.
The journey began with regional play downs hosted in Regina, on Oct. 21 and 22, where the Saints were ranked fourth.
Sacred Heart won their first game 6-1 over Regina Luther.
Goal scorers were Noah Wyatt with three, Nathan Mushanski, Dylan Haug and Ololade Olaleye with singles.
Simon Hartman had the win in goal.
The win over Luther led to a match against the second ranked Regina Laval squad.
The Laval game ended up going into extra time and ultimately penalty kicks.
During the penalties the Saints scored four straight goals by Noah Wyatt, Dylan Haug, Nick Looft and Kapaya Chilufya while Waylon Smuk stopped two out of four shots from the Laval players.
The penalty kicks win qualified the Saints for the provincial championships in Moose Jaw.
Sacred Heart was ranked third entering the provincial tournament.
The first game against Martensville got started with a bang.
Very early on the match, the Saints had a corner kick, and Waylon Smuk was able to get a solid head on the ball putting home his first of three corner kick header goals for him in the match.
Noah Wyatt had two goals in the match and Nick Looft and Nathan Mushanski had the other goals.
Hartman had the win in goal.
The win moved Sacred Heart onto the gold medal match where they faced a tough Moose Jaw Central team.
The first half ended in a 0-0 draw with both teams having chances but no goals.
The second half was much the same until around 25 minutes in when Moose Jaw scored two goals.
The Sacred Heart boys did not give up and were rewarded when awarded a penalty kick. Noah Wyatt made no mistake putting home a rocket.
“Ultimately this should have shifted momentum but a call by the official ultimately put the Saints down a player,” offered coach Scott Hoffort.
“The boys worked hard to tie the match but could not overcome the disadvantage of one less player on the pitch.”
But a silver medal finish is still an accomplishment worth celebrating.
“Winning a medal at a high school provincial championship is extremely difficult and this team has won two silver medals in a row,” said Hoffort.
Hoffort thanked all the Saints players” for their effort and courage on the pitch” and recognized the graduating seniors, Jack Malinowski, Kapaya Chilufya, Simon Hartman, Waylan Smuk, Dimitri Demaulan and Ty McManus “for all they have offered the Saints soccer program.”
Hoffort also noted the Saints other coaches Robert Okeny and Emily Kruger for having “done a fantastic job molding the team into a formidable opponent.”
The Saints look forward to again battling for a provincial gold medal next year, he said.
