Cougars to lean on veterans on pitch

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This article was published 06/09/2024 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Gerardo Alas is proud of what he’s done at Assiniboine College but not fully satisfied.

The all-conference goalkeeper is pushing to extend this Cougars men’s soccer season into the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference playoffs. The 12-game campaign starts Saturday at the Sportsplex field against the St. Boniface Les Rouges.

“We’ve had a change in the last three years and it’s really nice to be part of that change,” Alas said. “We came from a team where we had no points in I don’t know how many years … we’re starting to get some points so it’s a really good turnaround.”

Alas joined the Cougars in 2022, along with Brazilian midfielder Paulo Pinto and French star Theo Manias, who has played virtually every position for the college and continues improving. He went from an all-conference soccer player to futsal MVP in 2024.

“He’s taken up this captain role even when he was … fresh out of France, knew nobody but managed to step up and take that leadership role immediately,” Alas said.

“Those who have been here for three years, you can see them grow together. Paulo, Theo and myself try to create that bond with the new players.”

Assiniboine has two more key internationals back in Ukrainians Vadym Kochenko and Danylo Denysevych, but as usual, will rely on incoming players to step up and play big minutes.

A few potential standouts, according to head coach Chris McLachlan, are Nelson Flores and Walter Flores, who he coached in high school at Crocus Plains, and former Vincent Massey Viking Andres Rubio. The Cougars also have former Brandon University Bobcat Stefan McGonigle, who last played in the MCAC back in 2017.

Alas expects more of the same counter-attack style from the Cougars after they narrowly missed the playoffs last season, going 2-10-0. The concept of allowing opponents to possess the ball and pouncing on mistakes can spark upset victories but also leaves little room for error since opponents can play safer as soon as they take the lead.

“I got no room for error,” Alas said. “A mistake is a goal and we’re down already. I try to keep my head cool, nothing goes to plan but you’ve got to react to that in a positive way.

“You’re in charge of not letting anything in, if you start going negative it changes the whole team’s mood, which is why staying positive is one of the bigger things.”

The Cougars’ first road game is just a few days away, a rare Tuesday affair at BU to help both Brandon schools avoid a double-header weekend later in the season.

The Cougars don’t have to stay in Winnipeg, with no back-to-back road weekends until potentially the playoffs on Oct. 24-25.

McLachlan is optimistic about his fourth season running the program.

“We’re feeling pretty good, “he said. “We have more depth than we’ve had previous years, similar top-end guys so just excited we have guys that will be able to come off the bench and give us quality.

“We’re excited and think it’s time to take the next step and make playoffs this year.”

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