By JAMES TUBB on October 30, 2026.

PHOTO COURTESY MHC RATTLERS
The Medicine Hat College Rattlers men’s and women’s soccer teams pose for a photo before leaving for Calgary and the ACAC provincial championship playoffs that get underway today.jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat College Rattlers are going for both ACAC soccer crowns.
The men’s and women’s soccer teams are competing in Calgary today at the ACAC soccer championships hosted by the SAIT Trojans. Both MHC teams face off today against the Concordia University Thunder, with the men playing at 10 a.m. and the women at 12:30 p.m.
It’s been about 10 years since both of the college’s teams have competed at the same provincials and eight seasons since the women’s team earned a spot in the ACAC championships. The men’s team returns after earning a silver medal last year.
Rattlers’ head coach Damir Omerovic says it’s been a work in progress with both programs and he’s seen growth over his five years at MHC.
“I’ve seen it in many aspects throughout the years, it’s always the challenge of maintaining that stability, the recruitment process and bringing the quality in,” Omerovic said. “Then also making an attractive program that will bring in players from the outside to consider to come to Medicine Hat and represent Medicine Hat College, but I’ve seen growth in all aspects of the program.”
The men lost 1-0 in the 2025 ACAC championship final and took some time to get momentum this year. They started the ACAC season with three straight losses before turning it up, finishing the year with four straight shutout wins to clinch the third and final playoff spot in the South division with a 5-4-1 record.
Omerovic says the men’s team showed resiliency throughout the season, earning a playoff spot with their final win, a 4-0 victory over the Olds College Broncos on Oct. 24.
“With the never-give-up approach, we came back when we needed to get back to believing who we are and trusting the process this program is about and the culture we are building here,” Omerovic said. “Going undefeated in the last four games and conceding zero goals, we definitely have the momentum.”
He says that culture allowed them to battle through the slow start, he saw the team rely on one another and rise from there.
“Always trusting each other and believing in each other, then just understanding that it’s not going to be easy, and those tough moments are gonna come,” Omerovic said. “But finding a way of pushing through it and bounce back as quick as you can because our seasons are very short.”
For the women, they clinched third in the South earlier than the men’s team, finishing the season with a 7-4-1 record. Omerovic says the playoff berth is an exciting step for the group, after narrowly missing out on the chance last year.
He says they entered this season with a different approach, one that paid off from the first day of camp.
“Understanding what extra we need to do, with some new additions we had who have made an impact on a team and they made things more successful this year for sure,” Omerovic said. “But it’s also just understanding the work and everything that goes behind the just the game days and just vetting, it’s what brought us here to this point.”
He says it’s special seeing both programs in the playoffs and he’s enjoyed witnessing the steps both teams have taken as they each look to win provincial titles.
“Coaches dream of those those moments and it’s not just about success, but it’s also building that positive team culture and believing that as long as we stick together, the sky is the limit for you,” Omerovic said. “Then seeing the progress every day, day by day, and in a positive way, it’s what you enjoy as a coach from the sideline.”
The ACAC playoffs run until Sunday, with the bronze and gold finals on the final day.
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