Golden Bears Soccer extend home winning streak against Saskatchewan Huskies
Sometimes it just takes one break. For Alberta, that moment came early in the second half.
Graeme Kelly The Golden Bears finally cracked the Saskatchewan Huskies on Sunday at Foote Field. Habib Assem buried a penalty in the 51st minute. Then Frankroy Cain added another 20 minutes later. Just like that, a scoreless game flipped into a 2-0 win.
You could feel it building. Alberta outshot the Huskies 15-7, and outplayed them in every aspect. Winning all six corners, they pushed the pace all afternoon. The only thing standing in the way was Huskies keeper Jaron Slopinski, who made seven saves to keep it close.
Bears show up at home
The Bears were sharp in their own end too. Rookie forward Mateo Figueiredo nearly tied the game for Saskatchewan, but fourth-year defender Harkirat Malhi stretched out to make an acrobatic defensive play. That play kept the lead safe and gave goalkeeper Trystan Read his second shutout of the year.
From a big picture standpoint, this win pushed Alberta to 5-1-2 overall and 2-1-2 in Canada West play. At home, they have been rock solid: three wins and a draw. They currently sit in third place in the Prarie division.
It is not just one or two players either. Fourth-year forward Prince Amanda looked dangerous in his 75 minutes on the field. The bench added three more shots on goal late. That depth matters, it is the kind of thing that can turn a good season into a great one.
Saskatchewan, on the other hand, is still searching. They are 0-3-1 and last in the division, though Figueiredo showed promise up front. The Bears must demonstrate a dominant game against an elite-opposition to affix themselves as playoff contenders.
What’s next?
Alberta hits the road for the first time out west. They play the 4-0 University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds on Friday, followed by the 4-2 University of Victoria Vikes on Sunday. Two tough tests. A chance to show that their strong start at home can travel.
If you want a reason to tune in, here it is. The Bears are proving they can defend, create, and finish. The pieces are there. Now it is about keeping that rhythm alive, and recreating the success even while on the road.
