Neto and Kings tame Kodiaks in semi-finals, advance to division finals

Brent Forster – Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Red Deer, AB – A two goal performance from Brazil's Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto helped the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings advance to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer South Division finals. 

Holding a 1-0 lead at the half, the Kings' offence went into high gear against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks, striking four more times over the final 45 minutes and downing the visitors 5-1 in the division semi-finals. 

The Kodiaks had a fast start, but they couldn't solve Kings goalkeeper Jared St Thomas.

"Lethbridge came out to play. I give them credit. We were a bit sloppy at the beginning," said Gerald Grobmeier, Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Soccer Head Coach. "We weren't connecting our passes and were making things more difficult on ourselves."

After the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings weathered that early push, they elevated their game and momentum began to shift on their side.

Kings second-year midfielder Kaidri Bornyi rattled a shot off the right post, but the ball stayed out.

In the 32nd minute, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings broke the stalemate. From the right corner, Gabriel Martins Fonseca sent a cross out front and Neto deposited it behind Kodiaks goalkeeper Trey Lukye.

"As the first half went on our boys played themselves back into the game and we really saw a difference in the second half," said Grobmeier. "They had a solid training week and put it together in the second half and were able to put it away."

Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz put the Kings up by a pair in the 49th minute. Lukye couldn't reel in the ball from a shot from the side and the Business Administration General Management pounced on the rebound for a 2-0 edge.

Humberto Mourao Neto (10)

Within four minutes of one another, Neto notched his second goal and Thomson Wellie pushed the Kings ahead 4-0.

Wellie (18)

Lethbridge College reduced the gap in the 76th minute. Jaden Veluw converted a header behind St Thomas. 

Three minutes later, Osvaldo Aguilar Herrera restored Red Deer Polytechnic's four goal lead. Neto recorded the assist.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings solidified a 5-1 home win, earning a trip to the division finals.

Kristofer Grobmeier, a Bachelor of Education Secondary student, was named the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. Veluw, a fifth-year Nursing student, received the honour for the Kodiaks.

Grobmeier (4)

"Kristofer was solid throughout the whole game. During the first half when we were struggling, he bailed us out a number of times, and the second half as well," said Grobmeier. "We had a number of guys really step up in the second half, but I thought he was solid and kept us together and a clean sheet in the first half."

The Kings outshot the Kodiaks 11-1.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will face the SAIT Trojans in Calgary on Saturday, October 23 in the ACAC South Division finals. SAIT defeated Medicine Hat College 5-1 to advance to the south finals. 

The Kings Head Coach wants to see a faster start next weekend in Calgary.

"We need to come out ready to play earlier. The last few games, we've been struggling with our starts, so we need to clean that up," said Grobmeier. "We will work on some things in training this week to prepare."

NAIT and Lakeland College will clash in the ACAC North Division final next weekend.

Graduating student-athletes

Three student-athletes were recognized and celebrated prior to the match.

Jacobs (15)

Hayden Jacobs, a second-year defender from Innisfail, will be transferring to the University of Alberta to complete a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.

Moody (12)

This season, Kirk Moody returned for his second stint with the Kings and he played a leadership role. The second-year forward from Red Deer, will be transferring to the University of Alberta to work on a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Martins Fonseca (8)

Brazil's Gabriel Martins Fonseca completed his Business Administration General Management program and will move on to a new venture next year.