College women's soccer finishes season

The Olds College women's soccer team ended its season at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Championship last Friday, falling 3-2 to Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC).

GPRC would eventually reach the final, losing to NAIT.

Three Broncos were named All-Conference All-Stars: striker Jamie Flett, midfielder Rachel Brodie and defender Jasmine Flett.

The trio delivered in their game against GPRC.

"Jamie and Rachel scored a goal each and Jasmine kept the backline tight,” said coach Macky Singh. “They played really well."

Singh believed the team was capable of winning the match.

“We threw the kitchen sink and just couldn't find that third goal to take it to extra time,” he said.

As the longest-serving player, Olds' Amber Wolf has seen a drastic transformation in the program.

Her first year on the team included a number of players who hadn't played the game for many years. In her second, the skill level of her teammates improved but they still finished winless.

Now having just finished her third year with the Broncos, Wolf found herself playing with a group built to make the post-season. Their 5-4-1 record was the best ever.

"I personally think it was an amazing experience to go through all those changes,” Wolf said.

“To go from losing so much and then getting to this year where we won five games and made it to provincials. I'm actually super happy I got to be a part of it."

Since taking over as coach, one of Singh's goals has been to build a soccer culture in Olds by getting involved with the minor association.

He said he's seen some players with college potential who play in city leagues. But realistically, it could be a few more years until another kid from Olds makes the team, he said.

"There still needs to be a stronger bond between the college and the community,” he said. “All we can do is continue to build that relationship and helping (Olds Minor Soccer) grow their rural program."