TOUGH VOYAGE COMES TO AN END FOR PORTAGE WITH SEASON-ENDING LOSSES

LLOYDMINSTER & LAC LA BICHE – Macky Singh will remember the moments. In his first year at the helm of the Portage College Voyageurs Women's Soccer team, the experienced and decorated head coach will savour the moments this season when his shorthanded and inexperienced squad managed to hold their own against the top teams in the conference.

Despite a pair of weekend losses to wrap up the season – 8-0 on the road to the Lakeland College Rustlers on October 19 and 16-0 to the Keyano College Huskies at home on Oct. 20 during which they played long stretches with only 10 healthy players – Singh found plenty of moments to cherish. Moments such as goalie Esther Bylsma making a save on a shot in the penalty area against Lakeland, her third save in such situations this season, or holding the Rustlers to two goals in the second half of their Saturday match.

"We go in moments," said Singh. "We would have a good, long period of moments and then, we'd lose focus and then we'd get goals against quickly. That's what happened in the first half but in the second half, it was two goals that they scored (against us)…I thought that was probably our best period in the entire season, the way the players really focused and all that stuff."

On Sunday, the cozy confines of the Bold Center Soccer Field were anything but cozy for the hosts. Unable to field a full lineup due to injuries and playing against an experienced Keyano team with a playoff berth to play for, the Voyageurs were under siege from the start, down 6-0 after 24 minutes and 9-0 at half. Even then, however, a few of the grey clouds overhead on a cold afternoon were lined with silver. For a long stretch of the second half, the Voyageurs managed to play some tight defence and keep the visitors off the scoreboard for nearly 25 minutes before running out of gas at the end of the game.

"We had moments of periods that were good but when you play with 10 women, it's pretty tough kind of thing," said Singh. "It was pretty challenging."

As he turns his attention to the upcoming futsal season as well as continuing to recruit more players for next year's soccer squad, the veteran with more than 30 years' coaching experience at elite levels appreciates the sacrifice many of his players made this year, knowing that it would be tough sledding. Sometimes to rebuild, you have to tear everything down to the foundations and start over. 2024 was definitely a restart from scratch kind of year.

"At the end of the day, these ladies have been amazing for the program," said Singh. "They put their bodies on the line. They came out and did what they could within their ability and enjoyed themselves as much as they could and they didn't really quit. It's just we didn't have the quality but they kept on plugging and they kept on working hard and that's all I can ask of them. Hopefully we can develop that going forward as well."

Players of the Game

October 19:

• Portage: #31 Esther Bylsma

October 20:

• Keyano: #10 Natalie Orellana
• Portage: #6 Faith Okanta