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Shorthanded Knights rise to the challenge

Turns out Spartans aren’t the only ones who can win a battle undermanned.

Turns out Spartans aren’t the only ones who can win a battle undermanned.

With just eight players on the pitch, the Holy Trinity Academy Knights pulled off a miraculous second half comeback to usurp the Strathmore Spartans by a 4-3 count in a Foothills Athletic Council senior boys soccer thriller on May 11 at Riverside Park.

“It’s an accomplishment coming back and working our hardest,” said Knights midfielder Tristan Masse. “Winning a game being shorthanded players like this and not having a bench, it feels really good.”

Nick Wielgus let the good times roll early and often for the Knights.

The lone striker was on an island for much of the match, taking on four defenders at times and coming away with the rare hat-trick performance.

“Our main goal was to hold possession and send it to Nick, our main striker, and look for those through balls to make those plays,” Masse said.

“We wanted to make through balls to conserve energy and look for that opportunity to have a goal. It kind of all fell into place after that.”

Wielgus opened the scoring when he picked the pocket of the Strathmore keeper then the Spartans responded with a similar goal on a miscue at the back of the Knights defence.

Strathmore took its first lead of the game on a Knights own-goal and looked to be in cruise control when they netted in transition to take a 3-1 advantage midway through the second half.

Not so fast.

Wielgus responded almost immediately, darting past the Spartans defenders before curling a shot past the on-rushing keeper with the outside of his foot.

The Knights would complete the comeback on a seemingly innocent shot from distance. Hugging the right sideline, Masse unleashed a shot from the acutest of angles 40 yards out over the keeper to level the score at 3-3.

“It’s harder to get our through balls into the box because we only have one or two guys in there,” Masse said. “If the ball is coming down on the wing and you take a touch and have a shot, it’s worth a try.

“It ended up working.”

The wind firmly in its sails despite being two players short on the field, the Knights took the lead for good when Wielgus took on three defenders and lifted a shot over the keeper after being hollered at to turn and go on the sidelines from injured captain Grayson Dyck.

“They left some space and I ended up going right through there,” Wielgus said. “The goalie came out and it was a little tap passed him.

“You’re in the zone, you don’t really know what’s going on around you, but you do it.”

As the FAC season reaches the halfway mark., confidence following the unlikely victory was not in short supply.

“It really boosts it,” Wielgus said. “When we have our full team we can play a lot better. We didn’t really get angry at anyone, we kept it cool and I think that’s why we won.”

The Knights and Foothills Falcons take to the field for the second round of the battle of Okotoks on May 18. Opening kick-off is 4:30 p.m. at Riverside Park.


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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