The NAIT Ooks men's soccer team, led by Head Coach Jeff Paulus, is gearing up for an exciting and ambitious 2024/25 season. After capturing the ACAC silver medal last year, the Ooks are setting their sights on gold and a run at nationals. With a talented roster and a deep bench, the team is ready to kick off the season and work towards their ultimate goal: competing in the CCAA Nationals, hosted by St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB, from November 6-9.
The Ooks begin their campaign on Friday, September 6th, with a 6 PM road match against The King's Eagles. Their home opener will take place on Saturday, September 14th, at 2 PM, as they take on the Concordia Thunder. The NAIT Ooks regular-season soccer home games will be played at the St. Albert Soccer Association.
Heading into the new season, Coach Paulus is optimistic about his roster. "The excitement for our roster is very high," he said. "There are multiple players for each position, driving a healthy competition for starting spots. The depth of the team is very high overall, and we feel that this will be an advantage in what is always a very difficult season for the athlete with respect to managing fitness and freshness." This depth, according to Paulus, will play a crucial role as the Ooks navigate the challenges of the season.
As usual, the Ooks enter the season with lofty aspirations. "Like every year, the group is entering the season with high expectations," Paulus shared. "We feel that we will be a very competitive squad who should be challenging for a provincial berth with a goal to make nationals." With the ACAC Championship set for October 25-27 in Grande Prairie, hosted by the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves, the Ooks have their eyes firmly fixed on taking the top spot.
This season will see a significant influx of new talent, with 15 new players joining the team, including a brand-new defensive back line that Paulus is particularly excited about. "We will see the introduction of Ben Chebuk, Emmanuel Mukolo, Jackson Csobot, and Rich Anderson, giving us a real presence defensively," Paulus explained. "We've also added new keepers, Ethan Hruska and Parys Ona MacArthur, along with some exciting attacking players like Jameson Kiezik, Matthew Herbut, Dejuan Cassie, and Lungelo Napa." Paulus believes this is one of the deepest NAIT rosters in recent years, adding that the mix of veteran leadership and new talent positions the Ooks well for success.
Team chemistry, always a crucial element, is another area Paulus has focused on. "We have been very deliberate in our roster building to ensure this group of players is going to be successful on and off the pitch," he said. "The personalities within the group are fantastic, and we have already seen the lads coming together in a very short period of time." This camaraderie will be key as the Ooks look to build momentum throughout the season.
Despite the excitement, the Ooks are aware of the challenges that lie ahead. "Perhaps the biggest challenge is that only two teams in the North will progress to provincials due to Grande Prairie hosting," Paulus noted. "While we are very excited by our roster, we also know that Keyano will continue to be strong, and they are the defending provincial champs. Kings looks to have taken another step forward with a very good recruiting year. Over the last two years, Lakeland has always been a challenge for us, and last year, Concordia was the only team in the North that we did not take three points from in league play." Additionally, Portage has brought in a new coach and some out-of-province talent, and with Grande Prairie guaranteed a spot in provincials, their recruiting efforts could make them a much stronger team this year. "This being said, our biggest challenge is also the biggest challenge of our rivals, so from a football fan perspective, this could be shaping up to be the most exciting and competitive ACAC North season in years," Paulus concluded.
With a deep roster, strong team chemistry, and high expectations, the NAIT Ooks are ready to embark on their 2024/25 journey. As they set out to claim gold at the ACAC Championships and aim for nationals, the Ooks are determined to make this season one for the history books.