Taller, Marshall named All In Sports Den Keyano Huskies Athletes of the Week
Keyano College Huskies Athletics announced today that Women's Soccer student-athlete Ayla Taller (Edmonton, Alta.) and Men's Soccer student-athlete Jacob Marshall (Burton-Upon-Trent, England) have been recognized as the All In Sports Den Keyano Huskies Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, September 15, 2024.
The pair played key roles in weekend sweeps for their respective sides. Taller recorded two goals and five assists, factoring into seven of the team’s 11 goals on the weekend. In his fifth year of eligibility and the 33rd Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Regular Season game of his career, Marshall scored his first ACAC goal and wound up with a hat trick in a 5-1 victory Saturday.
“Ayla worked hard both games,” Head Coach Tiffany Fontaine said. “When you’re asking somebody to change positions, not only once, she’s learning the wing position, she’s learning the striker position.
“I think she rose to the occasion well.”
Taller scored the third and fourth goals in Saturday’s 7-0 win against the visiting Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves. She also picked up four assists in the match, factoring into the team’s first, second, fifth, and seventh goals. In Sunday’s 4-1 win, she contributed an assist on the Huskies’ third goal.
In her second year of eligibility, the Edmonton, Alta. product has appeared in 15 ACAC Regular Season games, recording three goals and six assists.
Marshall had himself a game to remember in Saturday’s 5-1 win against the Wolves. With the Huskies up 1-0 already, Marshall converted on a penalty kick and then scored two more times to record a natural hat trick by the 58th minute mark in the match.
“He’s had a rocky road at times,” Head Coach Niels Slotboom said. “He’s had some unfortunate things that have gotten in the way of him probably playing at his best throughout those five years. He never dropped; he’s one of the best leaders that I’ve seen at the college level.
“He waited until his fifth year to score his first goal and to go a little extra he scores a hat trick. It’s a great reward for someone who’s done everything for the program that’s been asked and then even more than that. It’s great to someone like that get a little bit of the spotlight.”
The center back has been an integral part of the Huskies’ defensive structure in their recent ACAC Championship success.
The Soccer Huskies are on the road this weekend against the Lakeland Rustlers, but return home September 28-29 to host the NAIT Ooks at Shell Place. Kick-offs are scheduled for 2:00pm and 4:30pm Saturday with 12:00pm and 2:00pm kick-offs Sunday.
All In Sports Den Keyano Huskies Athletes of the Week
September 15, 2024: Ayla Taller (Women’s Soccer) & Jacob Marshall (Men’s Soccer)
September 8, 2024: Natalie Orellana (Women's Soccer) & Aaron Ernst (Men's Soccer)