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PHOTO COURTESY MHC RATTLERS\nThe 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<\/a>@ReporterTubb <\/a>
\nThe Medicine Hat College Rattlers are going for both ACAC soccer crowns.
\nThe men\u2019s and women\u2019s 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.
\nIt\u2019s been about 10 years since both of the college\u2019s teams have competed at the same provincials and eight seasons since the women\u2019s team earned a spot in the ACAC championships. The men\u2019s team returns after earning a silver medal last year.
\nRattlers\u2019 head coach Damir Omerovic says it\u2019s been a work in progress with both programs and he\u2019s seen growth over his five years at MHC.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen it in many aspects throughout the years, it\u2019s always the challenge of maintaining that stability, the recruitment process and bringing the quality in,\u201d Omerovic said. \u201cThen 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\u2019ve seen growth in all aspects of the program.\u201d
\nThe 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.
\nOmerovic says the men\u2019s 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.
\n\u201cWith 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,\u201d Omerovic said. \u201cGoing undefeated in the last four games and conceding zero goals, we definitely have the momentum.\u201d
\nHe says that culture allowed them to battle through the slow start, he saw the team rely on one another and rise from there.
\n\u201cAlways trusting each other and believing in each other, then just understanding that it\u2019s not going to be easy, and those tough moments are gonna come,\u201d Omerovic said. \u201cBut finding a way of pushing through it and bounce back as quick as you can because our seasons are very short.\u201d
\nFor the women, they clinched third in the South earlier than the men\u2019s 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.
\nHe says they entered this season with a different approach, one that paid off from the first day of camp.
\n\u201cUnderstanding 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,\u201d Omerovic said. \u201cBut it\u2019s also just understanding the work and everything that goes behind the just the game days and just vetting, it\u2019s what brought us here to this point.\u201d
\nHe says it\u2019s special seeing both programs in the playoffs and he\u2019s enjoyed witnessing the steps both teams have taken as they each look to win provincial titles.
\n\u201cCoaches dream of those those moments and it\u2019s not just about success, but it\u2019s also building that positive team culture and believing that as long as we stick together, the sky is the limit for you,\u201d Omerovic said. \u201cThen seeing the progress every day, day by day, and in a positive way, it\u2019s what you enjoy as a coach from the sideline.\u201d
\nThe ACAC playoffs run until Sunday, with the bronze and gold finals on the final day.
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