MAX CRANSTON
Sports Writer

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s soccer team entered the weekend with a chance at making the Canada West Final Four.

With two games against UBC and Trinity Western, the Huskies could earn a spot in the playoff picture. The Huskies battled the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday and the Trinity Western Spartans on Sunday, with full knowledge of the importance that both match-ups held.

Backed by the firepower of the second-best offence in Canada West, UBC took advantage of a defensive breakdown to take the lead in the first half. The poise and patience of the Huskies showed in the second half, providing them with more scoring chances. The hurried UBC defencemen were successful in dispatching attempts, however, with several dangerous counter attacks being sent up field.

UBC failed to add to their lead, Huskies goalkeeper Mark Diakiw was a maniac in the second half — nothing was getting by him.

The Huskies made use of a free kick, as conference-leading goal scorer Jerson Barandica-Hamilton sent the ball rocketing into the top corner. Josh Northey had a chance to add to the tally in extra time, but forced the shot wide. The Huskies had the tie and fate was in their hands for their next game — the most important match of the year.

In the next game against Trinity, the Huskies capitalized on two early scoring chances and never gave the Spartans a chance to recover. Both goals were scored just before the end of the first half, as co-captains Myles Shedden and Josh Northey gave the Huskies admission to the final four.

Northey struck first, in the 41st minute on a quick rush. Shedden finished a five-year career with a goal in his last regular season game. Barandica-Hamilton delivered a corner kick that resulted in a quick goal by the perennial Huskies leader; Shedden was honoured pregame and it seemed fitting that the ball would find a way to his boot.

Barandica-Hamilton’s soccer roots trace south all the way to Mexico, where the young athlete was born.

“I grew up playing soccer in Cancun, Mexico, where I had the fortune of representing my state (Quintana Roo) at soccer nationals in 2003, 2004 and 2005,” said Barandica-Hamilton.

“I also played third and second division professional soccer with the club Pioneros de Cancun. Most recently I had the opportunity to represent Canada at the FISU games (World University Olympics) in Serbia last summer,”

Barandica-Hamilton still follows soccer quite closely in his home country too.

“I love the Spanish league,” he said. “I’m a big fan of Barcelona FC and their players Xavi and Iniesta.”

The Huskies finished the 2010 regular season at 7-4-3 and their last final four appearance was 2003.

The 2010 final four tournament is hosted by the University of Alberta Golden Bears next weekend. The Huskies are joined by the Bears, the UBC Thunderbirds and the University of Calgary Dinos.

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Photo: Pete Yee/The Sheaf