Soccer
The NAIT soccer teams faced off against the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves in their final matchups of the regular season, and what a thrilling showdown it was!
The men's team dominated their first game with a resounding 5-0 victory, followed by a strong 5-1 win in the second match, propelling them to the top of the leaderboard and securing first place in the ACAC North Division and a first-round bye at the ACAC Championship! Lungelo Napa was the star of game one, scoring an impressive three goals, while Matthew Herbut and Markus Sperling added to the tally with one goal each.
In game two, Rich Anderson kicked off the scoring, followed by Dilan Santiago Vargas, Dejuan Cassie, Mark Hinteregger, and Matthew Herbut—all finding the back of the net to seal the victory.
The women's team also showed their strength, winning their first match 2-0 with goals from Daelin Horsfield and Hailey Mishio. However, their second match ended in a hard-fought 0-0 tie. Despite their efforts, this left the team justshy of a playoff spot, finishing third in the ACAC standings.
Hockey
The men's hockey team kicked off their season with a challenging set of games against Briercrest College. They faced a tough team in their opener, scoring just once while their opponents netted five. Tyler Blocha scored for NAIT with assists from Ty Hodge and Sean Mitchell, while goalie Ryley Osland made an impressive 29 saves.
Their second game ended with a 9-3 score. Ashton McNelly, Josh Hoekstra, and Cale Lyons each scored. Goalie McCoy Bidewell was a standout, making a staggering 42 saves.
The women's hockey team had an electrifying weekend, sweeping Medicine Hat College with commanding victories of 8-1 and 8-0! Cheyenna Harden kicked off the scoring, while Jessica Engelbrecht showcased her skills with a hat trick. Abby Bryant, Halle Graham, and Grace Morton also found the net, and Ella Howard was solid in goal, making 13 saves.
In the second game, Kelly Stanford dazzled with two quick goals, followed by contributions from Callie Dach, Cheyenna Harden, and Keagan Goulet in the second period. The team continued their offensive onslaught in the third, with goals from Hannah Prinsen, Halle Graham, and Greir Slabaida. Aurora Van Wormer was stellar in goal, securing 19 saves to help her team maintain their momentum.
Golf
The NAIT Ooks golf team displayed grit and perseverance throughout the 2024 CCAA Golf National Championships at RedCrest Golf Club in King, Ontario. Over four challenging rounds, the Ooks faced tough competition and a demanding course, but their determination never wavered.
Day One saw the men's team off to a steady start, tied for 9th with Durham College. Blake Feth led the team with a +8, followed by Mason Gorski at +10. Tanner Visser and Cayden Clark both shot +16, while Nate Kasowski posted +18. On the women's side, Ella Dolan and her ACAC Team #1 were in fourth place, with Dolan shooting +20 in her first round.
In Day Two, the Ooks began to gain momentum. Mason Gorski's impressive +4 performance moved him up 12 spots on the leaderboard, giving the team a boost. Cayden Clark posted a solid 81, while Ella Dolan shot a brilliant 76, improving by 15 shots and climbing four spots on the women's leaderboard.
Day Three was a standout for the Ooks, with Mason Gorski delivering a remarkable -3 round, propelling him 10 spots up to 6th place individually. His performance helped the team climb a position on the leaderboard. Cayden Clark shot his best round of the tournament, a +5 for 76, while Nate Kasowski and Blake Feth also improved their scores.
By the Final Day, the Ooks finished 9th overall in the men's tournament. Cayden Clark led with a 73, his best round of the week, while Blake Feth shot 79, and both Gorski and Kasowski posted 83. Gorski's stellar tournament performance saw him tie for 13th place individually in the country. On the women's side, Ella Dolan concluded her tournament with a 94, securing 12th place individually. In a proud moment for the team, Nate Kasowski was awarded the CCAA Exemplary Leadership Award for his outstanding contributions both on and off the course.