Saskatoon v Calgary

[Stuart]

Wow, looks like Calgary are in with a chance to steal the title from Saskatoon.

Calgary had to win todays game by more than 2 goals and they did just that!!

Final score Saskatoon 6 - 9 Calgary.

United just has to win it's final two games next weekend (double-header) against Winnipeg and the title is ours.

[tmcmurph]

Sweet. Good for the guys to keep their concentration while the Olympic gold medal game was on. Winnipeg is playing much better recently but we'll still take both games and go to the playoffs.

Well done, see you next weekend.

[Stuart]

Accelerators' regular season ends with disappointing loss

By Lee Kormish, The StarPhoenixMarch 2, 2010

The Saskatoon Accelerators came up short in their bid for a first Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League title Sunday afternoon. The Accelerators dropped a 9-6 decision to the Calgary United for a costly first and only loss at home this season.

Saskatoon had shocked Calgary only a week ago by stealing a 6-4 decision on the road. This set up an historic opportunity for Saskatoon soccer. Always out of the limelight and left in the shadows to the Alberta teams, this was supposed to be our time. The stage was set. The highly favoured United was at our disposal on our home turf at the Saskatoon Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre. First place and a trip to San Diego for the North American indoor championship were on the line.

The boys started off strong and confident, taking an early 2-0 lead. All seemed to be in order after the first quarter. Forty-five more minutes of soccer and the championship would be ours. But it was not meant to be. Calgary potted four unanswered goals in the second quarter and from there on, the Accelerators were playing catch-up.

What happened? Perhaps Saskatoon became too complacent with the way things were developing. With the two-goal lead, maybe the team thought the game would play out in its favour. There was some unorthodox man marking and defensive lapses that allowed Calgary the four-goal outburst. It was something the Accelerators could not recover from.

From the second quarter on it was Calgary that played the more fluid and creative football, twice scoring on set plays and controlling the game. A lot of players on the Calgary team also play with the powerful Calgary Callie club, which is always a force on the senior club national scene.

As the game wore on and played into United's favour, the hometown boys continued to work hard, but strayed away from the team concept. It seemed that players tried to take things into their own hands with individual flare. It was not the same way the team was successful this season. They were used to playing with the lead and not down. The Accelerators threw caution to the wind but simply could not catch up. This one will be a bitter pill for the players to swallow.

The largest crowd of the season at the Henk Ruys left disappointed and heartfelt for the players who had done so well all season. In the end, it was one bad quarter against Calgary United that did the Accelerators in. At one point the team had won six straight over the likes of Winnipeg, Denver and Calgary. It was a stellar season to reflect back on and will leave the fans craving more.

The Saskatoon Accelerators still have a remote chance to win the title, but it is highly unlikely. Calgary plays host to the Winnipeg Alliance this weekend in a double header. Winnipeg must win at least once to give Saskatoon the title. The only problem is that the Alliance are winless on the road, while Calgary's only home loss was to Saskatoon.

Organizers of the Accelerators are proud of their players and promise fans another exciting season next year. The goal in mind will, of course, be to take that next step and secure the first-place trophy. In the off-season, the team will be looking at getting involved in the community by putting on soccer camps for players.