Last season, Calgary United FC was eliminated after the first game of the Professional Arena Soccer League’s North American Championships by giving up four goals to the California Cougars in the dying minutes. This season, the defending Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League champs didn’t leave anyone in suspense. Oswaldo Medina scored just nine seconds after the match kicked off, and the PPM Sidekicks del Estado de Mexico rolled to a 10-2 win, eliminating Calgary from the Cincinnati tournament with ease.

The Edmonton Drillers scored three goals in a 55-second span to snatch a win out of the jaws of defeat. Trailing 8-7 with less than three minutes left in regulation at home to Calgary United in Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League action Saturday, the Drillers took advantage of a goalkeeping error to turn the game on its ear — and came out with a 10-9 win.

Despite the departure of several of his stars, Calgary United coach Troye Flannery has confidence his team can repeat as Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League champions. “We’ve got some hard work ahead, but certainly that’s the intent without a doubt,” said Flannery, whose squad began defence of its CMISL title with a narrow 7-6 win over the Edmonton Drillers on New Year’s Eve at the Subway Soccer Centre. The off-season took its toll on the United as Chris Kooy, Kyle Yamada and Andre Duberry all signed professional contracts with Edmonton FC of the North American Soccer League, while veteran forward Mark Slade decided to retire.