KENTVILLE, N.S. — Northeast Kings Education Centre’s Titans will be taking the field next season as the defending Division 2 provincial champions.
The Canning-based team earned that title in a hard-fought rally against New Waterford’s Breton Education Centre (BEC) Nov. 2.
NKEC’s girls advanced to the championship match at Forest Heights following a 4-0 semifinal sweep of New Germany. Mackenzie Brawn, Maren Wheaton, Emilie Bennett and Olivia Rappoldt scored the Titan goals.
Fans from last year may have had a sense of déjà vu when the Titans and BEC took the field to battle for the provincial banner.
Titans head coach Dale Sanford said NKEC had their sights set on redemption after BEC bested them 1-0 in last year’s provincial final.
“Our goal was to beat them this year,” he said.
NKEC held a 2-0 lead off of two Rappoldt goals partway through the second half, but BEC was able to tie it up and force the game into overtime.
BEC was the first to put the ball to the back of the net in overtime play, but a goal by NKEC’s Kennedy Brawn helped advance the Titans to shootouts.
“We tied it up in the 118th minute,” Sanford said.
Both teams proved they had lasting power in the sudden-elimination shootouts, keeping fans on the edge of their seats longer than anticipated.
“We went to shootouts and we made it to the 22nd shooter,” Sanford said.
Peggy Kaulback kicked in the deciding goal for the Titans.
“We play a good possession game and I was just really impressed with the character that they showed in the final,” said Sanford.
“The girls kept their composure throughout the whole process, and it was a well-earned victory, it really was – it was extremely exciting.”
Sanford credits the team’s success this season, including going 16-0 against other Division 2 squads this year, to depth.
“We always play everybody, and everybody contributed lots,” he said.
“The fact that we were able to play everybody a lot was huge.”
With the exception of five Grade 12s, Sanford expects to see the majority of the team returning next year to defend their provincial title.
“We’ll be a tough team to beat again next year for sure,” he said, later noting that “in 19 years of our soccer program, we’ve medaled 18 years.”
The last provincial championship win, however, was in 2006.
“I’m thrilled,” he said. “Very proud of the girls.”
