Lakeland Rustlers Weekend Recap - March 7
Lakeland added to the podium count this past weekend, while other teams prepare for the post season.
The women's hockey team played their final regular season games, losing 4-1 and 2-0 to the NAIT Ooks. Hailey Carothers scored her league leading 19th goal of the season in Friday's loss. This ends the Rustlers debut regular season in the ACAC, finishing with a record of 10-8-2, good for third in the standings.
Men's basketball had an up-and-down ACAC tournament in Calgary this past week. Point guard Johnny Mims was named to the All-Conference 2nd Team and the squad entered the competition as the North's second seed, but they were without starting center Noah Simpson, was serving a one-game suspension. The Rustlers were able to ward off an early run from the St. Mary's Lightning to lead at half, but fell behind in the fourth quarter and failed to convert multiple game-tying three-point shots, losing 87-84 to the eventual silver medal winners.
Following the heartbreaking loss, the Rustlers battled through a tight affair with the NWP Wolves, winning 82-79 to advance to the 5th place game against the NAIT Ooks. Lakeland held off a late surge from the Ooks to win 83-81. Three players, Baha Salma, Abdul Al-Tamimi and Simpson, all had 18 points in the win.
Lakeland's mixed curling team was also in playoff action, hosting the ACAC Championship in Vermilion. The team won all three round robin matches for top seeding heading into the playoff round, but lost to the NAIT Ooks, needing to then beat RDP to get to the final. In the gold medal tilt, a rematch with NAIT, the Rustlers won 8-1, backed by a great performance from their skip Spencer Rogan. With that, Lakeland's mixed team ends their season on the highest note possible.
Women's hockey has their first postseason appearance this weekend, when they travel to Red Deer on Friday. The Queens beat the Rustlers in a pair of competitive games back in February. Game 2 of the Semifinal series is in Lloydminster this Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.
Men's futsal also begin their ACAC tournament, which are hosted by Keyano College in Fort McMurray this weekend. Their first game is at 3:45 p.m. against the Olds Broncos.
With basketball over and men's volleyball also done, women's volleyball remain the one court sport still competing in the CCAA. They will kick off the national tournament Wednesday against Rouges de Saint-Boniface, the Manitoba champions, at 9:00 p.m. Mountain Time.