Huskies striker Erica Hindmarsh playing a game of keep-away from a Calgary defender.

The Huskies women’s soccer team stepped out into a blizzard Oct. 20 to conquer the
University of Calgary Dinos. The Huskies managed a 2-1 win on the snow-covered West Varsity Soccer Pitch in Calgary.

The Huskies were awarded a penalty kick minutes into the game, but Calgary’s fifth-year keeper Kirsten Barton made a terrific diving save on Dogs midfielder Daniela Fuenzalida.

Erica Hindmarsh found a way to beat Barton in the 13th minute after taking a pass from teammate Kasya Naidu.

Just before the end of the first half, the Dinos made a return when Calgary’s Lauren Vernon
evened the score.

The Huskies managed a victory goal when Hindmarsh caught a pass from Nicholle Morrison and kicked it home for her second goal of the game.

The next day the Dogs shutout the Lethbridge Pronghorns 3-0 in both team’s final regular season game.

Out of the three Saskatchewan goals, two of them came off the foot of Janelle Zapski. The first came only four minutes into the match and the second just before the half. Dodging around ‘Horns defenders and firing the ball into the top corner, Zapski’s second goal of the day was a team leading eighth of the season.

Erica Hindmarsh scored the final goal, slipping the ball past Pronghorns keeper Taura Willoughby.

Marissa Struik made three saves in her first clean sheet game of the season for the Dogs.

The Huskies ended the season at 8-4-0 and finish fifth in the playoff race. They will travel to Regina Oct. 28 to play the Cougars in a Canada West quarter-final match up.

After starting the weekend tied for second in the Prairie conference standings with the Calgary Dinos, the Huskies men’s soccer squad gave up three points in the standings to the Dinos.

In the first game the Huskies were shutout 1-0 by Calgary at West Varsity Soccer Pitch Oct. 20.

Despite outshooting Calgary 11-5, the Dogs couldn’t beat Dinos keeper Jordan Unreiner.

Through the blowing snow, Calgary’s Michael McKinnon slammed it past Huskies keeper Mark Diakiw for the lone goal in the match.

In the second of back-to-back games, the Huskies faired a little better and ended the game in a 1-1 draw.

Izak Lawrence scored the first goal for the home-side Dinos on an excellent set up from teammates Brett Howard and Keiran Hay in the 11th minute.

Saskatchewan made their comeback to level the match at the 30th minute mark. Brett Levis, the Huskies top scorer, shot the ball over Dinos keeper Unreiner, tying the game 1-1.

With the tie, Calgary can finish no lower than third and is guaranteed a spot in playoffs.

In the final week of the Canada West regular season the Dinos, who currently sit in second place, will fight for top spot in the Prairie conference by playing against the first place Alberta Golden Bears. The Bears are four points ahead of Calgary, meaning Calgary would have to win both games to steal first place.

Meanwhile the Huskies duke it out against the Lethbridge Pronghorns for the third and final playoff spot in the Prairie conference. The Dogs currently hold third place with 18 points, but Lethbridge has 17 making this weekend’s back-to-back matches crucial for both team’s post-season dreams.

The Dogs will have home field advantage against the Pronghorns. The teams will battle Oct. 27 and 28 on Field seven, behind Griffiths Stadium. Game time is 2:15 p.m. for both matches. For a full list of men’s and women’s soccer standings visit www.canadawest.org.

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Photo: Colin Snyder