It had to happen sometime this season.

After opening play in the Alberta College Athletic Conference with three straight wins, the Red Deer College Queens soccer squad suffered its first loss of the season this past weekend, falling 2-0 on Saturday to the Medicine Hat Rattlers, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Lethbridge on Sunday.

It was a loss that Queens head coach Dave Colley was hoping wouldn’t happen, but knew that it probably would.

“As the teams get to know each other and get more familiar with each other, the season will get tougher, especially the last couple of games,” said Colley, who hails originally from Scotland and has been involved in soccer for most of his life.

“Look at SAIT. They lost 6-0 to Lethbridge in their first game of the season, and we only beat them 2-1. Not because Lethbridge is that much better but because SAIT learned from that game and made some adjustments when they played us.”

This is the first year at the helm of the Queens program for Colley, who was named the head coach earlier this year, replacing Jerry Gerling, who is taking this year off due to medical reasons.

Colley says he likes the squad that he inherited from Gerling, who will return as head coach of the Queens next season.

“I’m more of a defensive guy, but this year, because of the knowledge that these players have of each other, they’re able to recognize offensive opportunities really early and really easily and to respond as a unit to them,” said the former goalkeeper.

Led by Stephanie Tremblay, with six goals, and Katelyn LaGrange, with three goals, the 4-1 Queens return to the pitch tonight (Wednesday) in Calgary to battle the 5-0 Mount Royal University Cougars.

The game is set for 5 p.m.

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