A busy weekend of Huskies sports featured a windy football game at Griffiths Stadium, the final regular season games for both men’s and women’s soccer and the end of basketball preseason. 

Men’s Football vs. Regina Rams 

The Huskies football team defeated the Rams 28-17, despite the strong wind impacting the game. Quarterback Mason Nyhus recorded three touchdowns in the win, passing for over 300 yards for the third straight game. 

Veteran receivers Colton Klaasen and Sam Baker were the keys to victory, hauling in Nyhus’s passes for a combined three touchdowns. Klaasen scored in the second and third quarters, but the Rams tied the game 17-17 with 12 minutes to go in the fourth. 

Baker broke the tie to give the Huskies a 17-24 lead, with kicker David Solie’s field goal and rouge solidifying the Huskies’ 28-17 victory. 

The Huskies have won three straight games, sporting a 3-1 record on the season, which places them second in Canada West. 

They will head to Winnipeg for a clash against the Manitoba Bisons on Oct. 30, who sit atop the table. Both teams are 3-1 thus far, making the contest exciting both in terms of the play and the implications for the standings.

Women’s Soccer vs. Regina Cougars 

The Huskies women’s soccer team opened the weekend on the road against Regina, where they won 2-1 with goals from third-year midfielder Payton Izsak and fifth-year forward Maya Gabruch. The win clinched first seed in the central division of Canada West, ensuring the team gets to host a playoff game at Griffiths Stadium. 

On Sunday, the Huskies fell to the Cougars 2-1. Third-year forward Hailey Weber scored the lone goal of the game, striking from the edge of the box with a shot that arched over everyone and landed into the back of the net. The goal was her first career goal for the Huskies. 

The team honoured their cohort of fifth-year players during their final regular season game against Regina at Griffiths Stadium, providing them with framed jerseys and highlighting their contributions through the team’s Instagram page. 

The group includes Gabruch, midfielder Taneil Gay, defenders Hannah Zdunich-Costa and Kalli Cowles, and goalkeeper Jadyn Steinhauer. These players were all rookies when the Huskies reached nationals during the 2016 season, and they now hope to repeat the feat in their final year. 

The Huskies will play the Calgary Dinos in the Canada West soccer playoff quarterfinals at Griffiths Stadium on Oct. 29. 

Men’s Soccer vs. Alberta Golden Bears 

The Huskies men’s soccer team lost their game against the Golden Bears 0-1 on Oct. 22. This converted the final game of the season against the Golden Bears into a must-win as they competed with the MacEwan Griffins for the fourth and final playoff spot. 

In a crucial regular season finale, the Huskies played out a 0-0 draw against the Golden Bears. Although this earned them a point, the Griffins had defeated the Calgary Dinos earlier in the day. With this win, the Griffins secured the last playoff spot, ending the Huskies’ playoff hopes and their season. 

Basketball pre-season 

The Huskies men’s basketball team concluded their preseason this past weekend with a pair of games against the MacEwan Griffins and the Alberta Golden Bears. The team defeated the Griffins by 24 points in a convincing 86-62 victory on Oct. 22 before falling to the Golden Bears 75-97 on Oct. 23. 

The Huskies went undefeated during the Calgary Cup from Oct. 15-17, winning each of their three games by a margin of at least 12 points. 

The Huskies women’s basketball team also completed their preseason slate this past weekend in Toronto, playing two games in the Darcel Wright Memorial Classic. They were dominant against Western University with a 79-39 win on Oct. 23 before losing to the Ryerson University Rams 80-71 on Oct. 24. 

Both the men’s and women’s teams will kick off their regular season on the road against the Brandon University Bobcats in Brandon, Man. on Oct. 29 and 30. 

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Uday Chhina | Sports and Health Editor

Photos: As Credited