Olds College's two soccer teams are still searching for their first wins of the season, with only a pair of games remaining for each in the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) schedule.
Olds College's two soccer teams are still searching for their first wins of the season, with only a pair of games remaining for each in the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) schedule.
But for head coach Macky Singh, this season has been about improving each game, rather than the win-loss column.
"The result was never the goal. The key was an opportunity for them to play and try for each game to get better," Singh said.
"Where we are, in terms of progress, in terms of building for the long term, it's good."
Singh remarked on the season so far after his teams' games against the Lakeland College Rustlers on Oct. 4 at Normie Kwong Park.
That day, the women lost 3-0 and the men lost 5-0.
The next day, the women lost 5-0 to the Red Deer College Queens and the men dropped a 5-2 decision to the Kings.
From the start of the year, Singh said he wanted his teams to focus on defence.
The men have a goal differential on the season of minus-43 through eight games. The women have been better, with a minus-24.
Despite the ugly numbers, Singh said his teams have kept up with opponents and that the goals allowed have resulted from mistakes on their end.
"They played really well. The scores haven't been that great when you look at it but you know what, it's the work they put into it," he said. "I'm not taking away from the opposition but there have been many, many soft goals that's basically individual errors we make."
With some of the lopsided scores, Singh said that focusing on positives and tempering expectations have kept morale high, preventing players from getting discouraged.
"I think the key things were, taking out the small good stuff out of it. And they all know where they are in terms of … our ability against the opposition ability," he said.
"We're getting there. We started playing more aggressive, winning the balls. We're creating chances, it's just we're letting in soft goals. That's learning."
On Oct. 18, the Broncos will visit the Medicine Hat College Rattlers before their season finale at home against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks the day after.
With the conclusion of his first year as Broncos coach in sight, Singh said it's still business as usual for his players.
"We'll just keep plugging away and keep working and do what we've been working on. Keep working on the positives. Keep working on the plan we've set up and keep going."
[email protected]
