Catch up on the latest in Huskies sports. 

Huskies football continues to flourish, the women’s soccer team came up clutch and both hockey teams finished their preseason campaigns in an action-packed weekend of sports in September. 

Huskies football vs. Alberta Golden Bears

The second-best football program in the nation continues to prove its merit, defeating the Alberta Golden Bears 38-16 at Foote Field in Edmonton on Sept. 23. 

Fifth-year quarterback Mason Nyhus turned in another stellar performance, passing for 351 yards and orchestrating the high-powered offence. Fourth-year receivers Daniel Perry and Caleb Morin combined for 215 yards off of Nyhus’s deliveries. The Huskies found success with their rushers as well, with second-year running back Ryker Frank running for 128 yards and scoring a touchdown. Fifth-year kicker David Solie rounded out the offensive contributions, completing five out of six field goal attempts. 

The defensive effort from the Huskies was just as special. Defensive backs Katley Joseph, John Stoll and Nixen Voll each recorded an interception against Golden Bears quarterback Eli Hetlinger, stifling the Golden Bears’ momentum. Despite entering the contest having scored over 30 points in three of their last four contests, the Golden Bears were held to just 16 points. 

The Huskies will return home for their next game, as they take on the Manitoba Bisons in a rematch of the 2021 Hardy Cup on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. 

Huskies women’s soccer 

It was a successful business trip for the Huskies women’s soccer team, who went to Manitoba and secured two crucial victories. They won both games 2-1, defeating the Manitoba Bisons on Sept. 23 and then the Winnipeg Wesmen on Sept. 24. 

First-year forward Cheyenne Lehmann played hero for the Huskies against the Bisons, scoring two second-half goals to fuel a comeback win. Lehmann pounced on a beautiful pass into the box by third-year forward Halle Krynowsky, sneaking past the Bisons defender and scoring her first goal in the 56th minute. The second goal came courtesy of a through ball from fourth-year midfielder Payton Izsak, setting up Lehmann on a breakaway. Lehmann was clinical with her finishing, striking it powerfully for the game-winner. 

The second game was characterized by a quick start, as Wesmen defender Sydney Arnold scored a header off a corner in the seventh minute. Second-year forward Alyssa D’Agnone answered right back with a goal of her own in the 10th minute. It took until the second half to break the tie, with fourth-year forward Cassidy Hayward capitalizing off of second-year forward Nicole Burnett’s cross to head the ball into the net. This ended up being the game-winner, as the Huskies held on to the lead for the remainder of the game. 

The six points earned boosted the Huskies into a tie for first-place in the Prairie Division of Canada West with the MacEwan Griffins. The Huskies will play their last two home games of the season on Oct.1 and 2, hosting the Mount Royal Cougars and Lethbridge Pronghorns at Griffith’s Stadium. 

Huskies men’s soccer 

It was a disappointing weekend for the Huskies men’s soccer team, as they fell 0-4 in both of their matchups in B.C., first to the UNBC Timberwolves on Sept. 23 and then to the UBC Thunderbirds on Sept. 25. 

The Huskies and Timberwolves both had eight shot attempts in the game, but the Huskies were unable to finish their scoring opportunities. However, the second game was lopsided in UBC’s favour, as they outshot the Huskies 21 to three. 

The trip to Alberta for a game against the MacEwan Griffins on Oct. 1 and against the Alberta Golden Bears on Oct. 2 will be critical for the Huskies as they look to gain some ground in the standings.

Hockey preseason

Both the Huskies men’s and women’s hockey teams wrapped up their final slate of preseason games from Sept. 22-24, with the women playing all three games at home at Merlis Belsher Place while the men travelled to Calgary for a doubleheader against the Calgary Dinos. 

The women’s team won once and lost twice, losing 1-2 against the U18 Team Saskatchewan squad and 1-3 against the Mount Royal Cougars before defeating the Alberta Pandas 1-0 in the final game. 

The men’s team lost both games against the Dinos, being outscored 2-5 in the first game and narrowly losing the second game 2-3. 

The Canada West season kicks off for both squads next weekend on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The men’s team will host the Trinity Western Spartans for a doubleheader at Merlis Belsher Place while the women’s team will be on the road, playing the Spartans twice in Langley.