Lakeland Rustlers Weekend Recap - Sept 18, 2023

Despite many teams still weeks away from league competition, Rustlers Athletics had a very busy weekend.

Men's and women's soccer had a pivotal trip to Edmonton on Saturday to face the King's Eagles, a matchup circled on the calendar by both teams. The women started the afternoon with their best defensive effort of the season so far, holding the Eagles to a 0-0 draw. Goalkeeper Hayley Fernandes was named Player of the Game, helping secure the first standings points for the team this season.

The men's contest was also a defensive battle, however, this time the Rustlers couldn't maintain the stalemate through regulation, losing 1-0 to the Eagles. Jonah Elliott received POG for the visitors, who fall to 1-2-0 on the year.

In women's hockey, the Rustlers had a jam-packed weekend, hosting youth camps, multiple exhibition games and a team fundraiser. On the ice, the team swept the Medicine Hat Rattlers in a pair of contests, before doing the same to the Cochrane Chaos hockey club.

Women's volleyball traveled to Edmonton to train with and compete against Grant MacEwan University. The Rustlers split into two squads, both losing to the Griffins in four sets.

This weekend, the women's hockey and basketball teams are on the road to play the University of Saskatchewan in exhibition play, with basketball also taking on the University of Regina. At home, both soccer and volleyball are busy. Austin and Taylor Dyer's teams will host their annual Rustlers volleyball invitational, with several teams from Alberta and Manitoba in town for the event. This is kicked off Thursday evening when the men's team play the Briercrest Clippers, the defending ACAC Champions, at 7:00 PM. The final games of the weekend take place Sunday afternoon.

For soccer, Saturday marks one of the most important home dates on the calendar, when the two squads get another chance against the King's Eagles. Kick off for the women's game is at 12:00 PM, the men following roughly at 2:00 PM, both at VLA Field. Then on Sunday, the teams travel to Lac La Biche to face the Portage Voyageurs.