2023-24 Women’s Soccer and Futsal Recap
Calgary, AB | 2023-24 Women's Soccer and Futsal Recap
The Lions Women's Soccer/Futsal team had a rebuilding year this year and had immense progress towards a competitive team. They ended their season this year with such visible progress in the right direction.
The Women opened up their year with some exhibition games, helping them prepare for the season. The Lions brought on some exceptional athletes to their team, but had a younger squad with new to the conference experience.
Opening up their season this year with a new coach, Claude Bolton, the lions were hungry for some rejuvenated energy on the field this season. The growth that happened during this season was extremely impressive. One highlight game what was evident of this progress was a game against Red Deer Polytechnic at the end of the year. In previous seasons, Ambrose suffered defeats to RDP of 23 nil, in 2021, and 16 nil, in 2022. As fate would have it, RDP simply needed a win on their last game of the 2023 Regular Season to advance to playoffs. Ambrose produced our best game of the season, only falling 1-0 in a tightly contested match. Another positive aspect of the Lions season this year was their sizable change in goals. Ambrose was able to reduce their Goals Against average by almost 3 goals per game and reduced our Total goals against by 31 goals.
Some players on the Lions team were key to their success this year. 3rd year Captain, Gracey Nichol, helped guide her team to these massive changes. Head coach Claude Bolton notes: "She Guided, essentially, the evolution of a brand-new team and culture. Gracey was the bridge between everyone involved and in every aspect of the team, both on and off the field." Another player that helped the Liosn Immensly was first year, Rylee Flamont. "A player that very often does not catch the eye on field, though she plays every minute of every game. A player that does not ask why, but simply how high. A young woman that would rather everyone be included, yet, accepts the lack of her own invitation. The first person to admire a sister's performance, while making her own priority - always to improve. Part of every game, laugh, tear, outing, and training session. From the outside one may not notice her as a painter; it is just that they do not see her working to get us the paint." Says Claude.
"If I could summarize this season in one word it would be "Resilience" - because they have overcome adversity, mockery, and conflict, all while enduring defeats on the scoreboard week after week, game after game. They have done so with humility and pride, intensity and calm, patience and action, and, most importantly, love."
The Futsal Season served as a significant platform for our Lions to continue to build and strengthen the technical abilities of all our players. A couple of wins along with the opportunity to compete against eventual provincial finalists and champions have added to the necessary experience that can pay dividends in the years to come.
The Lions look to next season to continue their exponential growth.
ACAC Awards
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