VOYAGEURS RECORD HISTORIC HOME WIN IN IMPRESSIVE TWO-GAME SPLIT WITH LAKELAND

VOYAGEURS RECORD HISTORIC HOME WIN IN IMPRESSIVE TWO-GAME SPLIT WITH LAKELAND
October 16, 2025

LAC LA BICHE & LLOYDMINSTER – The Portage College Voyageurs had a lot to be thankful for this long weekend: better health, strong play, and close games, capped off by an historic home win on Thursday night. The women's soccer squad faced off against Lakeland College in a pair of tilts and came away with a split, winning 1-0 on Thursday night in Lac La Biche and then losing 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in Lloydminster.

 

Ash Hennenfent booted home the winner in the 30th minute of Thursday's contest, bringing a decent-sized crowd to its feet. The goal was historic for a variety of reasons: it was the Voyageurs' first of the season, yes, but more importantly, it proved to be the game winner, giving the women their first ever victory on home turf.

 

"It feels really good," said Hennenfent, a four-year veteran, after the match. "We've been working really hard, a lot on our communication, and getting those connections on the field going. It was really good."

 

Two days later, facing the same Lakeland squad on the road, the Voyageurs played another strong game, but couldn't overcome an Addison Allen marker in the 59th minute.

 

Head Coach Macky Singh, who's been slowly rebuilding the program since he arrived less than three years ago, was particularly impressed with the Voyageurs played in the loss, generating several scoring chances and almost tying the game on more than a few occasions. He noted that he told his players after the Thursday win that Lakeland would push back hard and could run them off the field on Saturday if they weren't careful.

 

"Once again, the game was very even," he said of the Saturday rematch. "We applied the same game plan, but they managed to score in the first half of the game…And then in the last 10 minutes of the second half we threw everything in. I pushed (Ashley) Tweedy up to midfield to see whether we could get something, and we really stretched them and really had quick a few chances but were just unlucky that we didn't put it away."

 

Having a few more healthy bodies off the bench certainly helped, with Singh actually able to substitute players in for the first time in several weeks. With one more game on the schedule, a tough matchup against perennial title challengers NAIT at home on Saturday, the head coach is happy to have a few less walking wounded and a team playing with some confidence. He views Saturday's tilt as a barometer for how for the Voyageurs have come this year, given that they lost 8-nil to NAIT earlier this fall.

 

"So, can we get closer than that? Overall, I was really happy with the ladies' performance, coming away with a win and a close loss, so you know, that's definitely progression," he said. "Now we just have to continue and finish up strong in the last game of the season."  

 

Portage Players of the Game