The Huskies men’s soccer team lost a crucial game this past weekend in Calgary.

The Dogs, who are in a tight race to qualify for the Canada West final four playoff, fell 1-0 to the University of Calgary Dinos Oct. 16.

Yoann Promonet’s goal in the 30th minute for the Dinos was the game’s only goal despite strong scoring attempts and end-to-end rushes from both sides.

Huskies keeper Mark Diakiw recorded 10 saves on the Dinos’ 20 shots while Dinos keeper Jordan Unreiner had six on Saskatchewan’s 13 shots.

With the loss, the Huskies — who were one point ahead of Calgary going into the game — fell two points behind the Dinos and into sixth place in the Canada West with a 4-4-2 record. Calgary now sits fifth amongst the eight teams with a 5-4-1 record.

British Columbia, Victoria, Alberta, Trinity Western, Calgary and Saskatchewan are all within seven points of each other and could all qualify for the conference’s four playoff spots. With Saskatchewan on the bottom of that points list in sixth place, however, the Huskies will have to win a majority of their remaining games to play in the final four, which begin Nov. 5.

Huskies women’s soccer one point behind top four spot

While the Huskies women’s soccer team fared slightly better than their male counterparts on Oct. 16, Calgary still challenged Saskatchewan’s playoff hopes.

The Huskies women tied Calgary 1-1 but nearly lost due to a handball in the game’s closing minutes.

Late in the game, Saskatchewan was called for a handball in the box, providing Calgary’s Tessa Miller with a chance to end the game. Fortunately for the Huskies, however, she rung the penalty shot off the post.

The game’s only scoring came in the 11th minute off a Sarah Benson goal for Calgary and a 48th minute goal by Gillian Pinder of the Huskies.

Calgary outshot Saskatchewan 20-11.

While the tie prevented the Dinos — who were two points behind the Dogs for fifth spot in the conference going into the game — from passing Saskatchewan in the standings, it prevented the Huskies from moving ahead of Victoria.

Victoria currently holds fourth place in the Canada West but is only one point ahead of the Huskies.

Saskatchewan, Victoria and Calgary are all within three points of each other for the conference’s fourth and final playoff spot but Victoria has played two more games than both Saskatchewan and Calgary.

Playoffs begin on Nov. 4.

[box type=”info”]The Huskies men’s and women’s soccer teams are on the road Oct. 21 and 22 to face the Trinity Western Spartans and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.[/box]

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Photo: Colin Snyder