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(L-R) RDP Athletes of the Week, Kings soccer player Ajdin Sarcevic and Queens soccer player Sein Furuyama. (RDP Athletics)
Basketball, hockey and soccer

Red Deer Polytechnic Athletes of the Week and athletic update

Oct 17, 2022 | 4:53 PM

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Athletics has announced Queens soccer player Sein Furuyama and Kings soccer player Ajdin Sarcevic as the RDP Athletes of the Week.

1. Sein Furuyama – Queens Soccer

Hometown – Kobe, Japan, Academic Upgrading (1st year)

For the second week in a row, Sein Furuyama is named the Queens Player of the Week. After scoring her 26th and 27th goal of the year against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers, she broke the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) Single Season Goal Record. On Saturday afternoon in Raymond, Furuyama was left off the scoresheet against the Lethbridge College Kodiaks but still played 90 minutes and contributed to the offence with two shots. It only took 16 minutes on Sunday against the Rattlers for Furuyama to tie the ACAC record. In the second half at the 68th minute, history was made. Captain Alisha Coules sent in a pass to Furuyama and she put it in the back of the net for the historic 27th goal. She can extend her record this week when the Queens battle with the Olds College Broncos at home at 12 p.m.

2. Ajdin Sarcevic – Kings Soccer

Hometown – Red Deer, Alberta, Business Administration General (2nd year)

Sarcevic was a crucial piece to the Kings performance this past week when they battled with the Kodiaks and the Rattlers. He was a part of the Kings first goal against Lethbridge when he would control a pass, one touch it to Kaidri Bornyi who put it in the back of the net. Sarcevic would get a goal for himself when he placed a free kick top corner from 22 yards out. The second-year captain would contribute two assists in the 4-0 shutout victory over the Rattlers.

This Week in Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Basketball will be back in action, coinciding with the polytechnic’s Homecoming weekend which starts on Thursday, October 20 and will end on Saturday, October 22.

For the Kings and Queens Soccer, game day on October 22 is also Graduation Day for the teams as they celebrate players moving on from collegiate sports as well as the student-athletes who are graduating from their respective programs.

Basketball

  • Queens vs St. Mary’s Lightning | Friday, October 21 | 6 p.m. at Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

In the season and home opener, the RDP Queens will face against last year’s number one ranked team in the ACAC South Division, the St. Mary’s Lightning.

Head Coach Avery Harrison says the Lightning will be a tough team to face against early on in the season.

“They have added two more guards who both played two years of junior college at Washington State so they are going to be good. They are going to have a solid back court,” he said.

The Queens will be fortunate to play in front of the 1991/1992 Queens, who happen to be the last Red Deer women’s basketball team to win gold at the ACAC Championships.

  • Saturday, October 22 | 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s University (Calgary)

This rematch against Lightening will be livestreamed on ACACTV.

  • Kings vs St. Mary’s Lightning | Friday, October 21 | 8 p.m. at Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The RDP Kings Basketball team will kick-start their 2022/2023 ACAC season at home when they take on the St. Mary’s University Lightning as well.

Head Coach Darren Graham says the Lightning are a very good team out of Calgary and will be returning Caleb Jipp and Averie Armbrister, who are both First Team All-Conference selections.

“They are coached well. They play a good zone, so they are a tough matchup. They will be a playoff team in the south. We will have our hands full as we got a long way to go to be competitive in that game,” he said.

  • Saturday, October 22 | 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s University (Calgary)

The Kings rematch against the Lightening will be available to livestream on ACACTV.

Hockey

  • Kings (1-1) vs SAIT Trojans (2-0) | Friday, October 21 | 7 p.m. at Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The RDP Kings hockey are looking to bounce back after losing 4-3 in their second game against the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings. The Kings would beat the Vikings 6-3 in their home opener. Now, they will be put to the test when they take on the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans in a home and home series.

Head Coach Trevor Keeper says right now they are focused on themselves.

“We know against SAIT when we play a physical game, we can get under their skin and earn some powerplay time so that is going to be important,” he said.

  • Saturday, October 22 | 6:15 p.m. at Calgary

This rematch against the Trojans will be available to livestream on ACACTV.

Soccer

  • Queens (10-1-0) vs Olds College Broncos (4-4-2) | Saturday, October 22 | 12 p.m. at RDP Soccer fields

It was a record-setting weekend for Queens Soccer this past weekend, as the team beat the record for most goals in a single season with 84 and the Queens still have one more game to extend their goal records’.

Head Coach Mazhiar Peyrow says they are doing well but the job’s not done.

“A win is what we need to finish a top of the South Division and set ourselves up nicely for playoffs. We will focus on our training this week to prepare ourselves for what’s ahead,” he said.

If the Queens come away with a victory, they will lock in first place and a bye to the semi-final match next week Saturday, October 29 at the ACAC Championships in Raymond.

The last time these two teams faced each other, the Queens came out on top with a 4-2 victory. Captain Alisha Coules and Furuyama both had two goals in the win.

Four Queens soccer players are graduating, according to Peyrow:

  1. Lexi Kowalchuk: “Without a doubt, the most uplifting player Queens Soccer has ever seen! She has a big heart, and it shows both off and on the field. When it comes to the pitch, Lexi is a dominating offensive presence,” he said.
  2. Alisha Coules: “As our devoted Captain, Lish gives and gives to this team more than anyone on the outside would realize. She is behind the scenes at every turn, organizing, connecting with the girls, and striving to be the best captain she can be,” said Peyrow.
  3. Jaden Humphrey: “Jaden is a defensive star for this team. Whether she’s making incredible tackles or organizing the back line, we can always have faith we are in good hands. She’s always a friendly face for the rookies to turn to, and she excels in keeping the team’s spirits high,” said the head coach.
  4. Kayla Yeo: “Kayla is an amazing worker on the field, always giving us everything she has in every play. She has been a reliable, strong defender for this team, and we are so grateful for everything she brings to the table both on and off the pitch,” said Peyrow.
  5. Kings (4-1-4) vs Olds College Broncos (4-2-3) | Saturday, October 22 | 2 p.m. at RDP Soccer fields

After coming off a weekend where they battled the Lethbridge College Kodiaks to a 2-2 draw and a 4-1 victory against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers, the Kings Soccer team will be looking forward to their final league game in front of their fans.

Head Coach Admir Sarcevic says it is going to be a tough matchup against the Broncos.

“It will be a hard game, but we will be ready for it. We want to make sure we finish second in our division and have home field advantage in play-downs,” he said.

This will be the only Kings soccer match this weekend and it will be their last regular season game before the play-down games next week Tuesday, October 25.

If the men win or tie against the Broncos, they will place second in the South Division. But with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks hosting the championships, the Kings will be bumped down and will compete in one of the two play-down matches next week Tuesday.

The last time these two teams met, the Kings and Broncos result was a 1-1 draw. First-year striker Ashton Chipman scored the lone goal for Red Deer.

According to Sarcevic, just one King, Jared St. Thomas, is graduating.

“He has been an influential part of the team. He helped the team last year win the bronze in ACAC Championships. This year he has helped our young team with his professional attitude and all the experience he possesses,” said the head coach.