Both Huskies teams salvaged a point from the weekend after scoring late goals.

A busy weekend in Huskies soccer was defined by exciting finishes, with both teams tying up one of their games in dramatic fashion. 

Women’s Soccer

The Huskies women’s soccer team played a pair of hard fought games on Sept. 18 and 19, falling 0-1 to the Trinity Western University Spartans and then securing a 1-1 draw against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. 

The Spartans would score the only goal of the contest in the first half, thanks to midfielder Sophie Crowther’s playmaking efforts. Crowther sped down the right wing before feeding forward Charis Wardrope, who made no mistake as she cut back in for a powerful left footed strike that found the back of the net. 

The Huskies began the second half in attack mode, with midfielder Payton Izsak streaking down the left wing to create scoring chances. Despite generating pressure, the Huskies were unable to convert their efforts into a goal.

An aggressive offence also left the Huskies vulnerable to counter attacks from the Spartans, but first-year goalkeeper Nadia Kalyar kept the high scoring Spartans offence at bay. Kalyar stepped up to thwart crosses, and dove several times to stop the Spartans shots on goal, finishing with seven saves for the game. 

The Sunday game against the Cascades began with an early goal by the Cascades in the fourth minute, with midfielder Halle McCambley redirecting a cross by heading it past Kalyar into the net. However, the rest of the game turned out to be a defensive battle, with the Cascades only registering three total shots on goal. 

The Huskies pushed hard for an equalizer, with nine shots on goal for the game. With the game all but decided in the 90th minute, second-year forward Nicole Burnett buried a soaring 25-yard free kick into the top left corner of the net, tying the game in the last second. A memorable first U SPORTS career goal for Burnett to say the least. 

The Huskies sit in the middle of the Canada West Prairie division standings with two wins, two losses, and three draws so far. They will look to gain valuable points and move up in the standings when they visit the Manitoba Bisons and Winnipeg Wesmen for back-to-back games on Sept. 23 and 24. 

Men’s Soccer 

The Huskies men’s team participated in two action-packed games on Sept. 18 and 19, earning a 1-1 draw against the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack and then being outscored 3-5 by the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. 

The Wolfpack struck first in the 26th minute, with forward Ryan Lewis scoring a scrappy goal off of a long throw into the box by midfielder Patrick Izett. The Huskies and Wolfpack traded scoring chances for the rest of the first half with neither team able to capitalize. 

The Huskies opened up the second half dominating possession in the midfield, still searching for the equalizer. Third-year defender Aaron Hidalgo-Mazzei’s free kick struck the crossbar, prompting fans to jump out of their seats in excitement. The Huskies’ persistent attack was finally rewarded in the 87th minute when third-year midfielder Kuhle Bekwayo one-timed a low cross from first-year midfielder Misgana Killoh straight into the back of the net. 

The second game of the weekend against the Cascades was a stark contrast to the tight, low-scoring battle with the Wolfpack. Forward Ivan Mejia scored early on a breakaway to put the Cascades up 1-0, but Bekwayo responded quickly for the Huskies, slotting in a low shot into the bottom left corner to tie the game at one apiece in the 11th minute. 

Huskies midfielder Diego Reveco scored a penalty kick in the 17th minute, but the Cascades answered back with two goals to lead 3-2 at the half. Despite third-year forward Ajani Fountaine tying up the game 3-3 early in the second half, the Cascades would score twice more to prevail. 

The loss puts the Huskies second last in the Canada West Prairie Division. Up next is a trip to BC for a doubleheader, first against the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves on Sept. 23 and then against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Sept. 25. 

Uday Chhina | Sports and Health Editor

Photos: Nicholas Saretzky | Contributing Photojournalist