Kings crown Rattlers, receive bye to semi-finals

Brent Forster - Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Medicine Hat, AB - Heading into the final regular season game against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Soccer team was on a quest to receive a bye to the semi-finals.

With a 1-0 road victory Sunday afternoon, the Kings accomplished that mission, finishing second in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer South Division. 

The Kings and Rattlers traded a few offensive opportunities throughout the first half, but neither side could convert until the 38th minute. 

With a scramble in front of Medicine Hat College's net, Brazil's Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz took control and beat Rattlers goalkeeper Ross Wilder.

Fleury de Queiroz (9)

That goal was the only one the visitors needed and the Kings capped off a 1-0 victory. 

Red Deer Polytechnic Kings goalkeeper Jared St Thomas was strong in net. The first-year Kinesiology Fitness and Health student turned aside all six shots he faced. Wilder made eight saves. 

Thomson Wellie was selected as the Kings Player of the Game. The first-year forward from Grand Bassa, which is a county in Liberia, had three shots on goal, generating several offensive chances.

Sloan Dykema received the recognition for the Rattlers. 

With the win, the Kings finished with an impressive 4-1-1 regular season record and a trip to the semi-finals as the second seed.

Stay tuned to Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics social media and website, along with the ACAC website for more details about the Kings' playoff game.