CALGARY, ALTA. - The NAIT Ooks defeated the SAIT Trojans 2-1 in the final game of the 2018 ACAC Women's Soccer Championship at Cohos Commons Field at SAIT on Sunday afternoon.

Yumi Ishimura opened up the scoring for the Ooks in the 25^th minute to give her team a 1-0 lead which would hold up until the end of the first half. In the second half, it was the SAIT Trojans who opened up the scoring when Deanna Kuan scored in the 46^th minute, off of a NAIT Defensive mishap, to tie the game at one.

The game would stay tied at one all the way into extra time. It wasn't until the Ooks' Yuri Akatsu scored in the 109^th minute off of a short corner play that the tie would be broken, giving the Blue and Yellow a 2-1 lead. Akatsu's goal would stand as the game-winner, crowning the NAIT Ooks as the 2018 ACAC Women's Soccer Champions.

The game was close in score, but not so much in play. The NAIT Ooks controlled the play for the majority of the game, peppering SAIT's goalkeeper Amy Offredi with 16 shots, while only surrendering 8 shots against. In extra time the Trojans found their stride pushing back on the Ooks forcing a defensive gridlocked match that looked to be headed to penalty kicks. It was the heads up short corner play from Yumi Ishimura to Yuri Akatsu, who then beat Offredi with a brilliant shot that broke the gridlock.

"It was a really good game, probably the best provincial final I've been a part of. We stuck to our plan, our subs came in and did a great job. I'm really happy with the result," said head coach Carole Holt.

Deanna Kuan from SAIT and Yuri Akatsu from NAIT were named Players of the Game. Ooks, Kaily Mohn and Marissa Webb were named ACAC Tournament All-stars and Yuri Akatsu was named tournament MVP.

The Ooks will now travel to Coquitlam, British Columbia to compete at CCAA Championships hosted by Douglas College, November 8-11^th.

For further information, please contact:

Sam Nahrgang • Sports Information • (780) 471-7606 • snahrgang@nait.ca