Cameron Doherty, Huskie Athletics
SASKATOON – In a game that was must-win to keep their hopes of hosting a home playoff game alive, the Saskatchewan Huskies men's soccer team responded to some early adversity to claim a 4-1 victory over the Mount Royal Cougars on Oct. 19.
Mohamed Omar, Marcello Gonzalez, Ekior-Dourde Mieyefa and Gabriel Buatois all scored for the Huskies, while Branden Canejo had the lone marker for Mount Royal.
The win moves Saskatchewan to a record of 5-6-2 on the season. Crucially for them, the victory keeps them just one point behind the Calgary Dinos. Those two teams will meet on Sunday in Saskatoon with the winner claiming second in the Prairie Division of Canada West soccer and the right to host a playoff game.
For the Cougars, who now hold a record of 4-8-1, the loss sees their playoff fate remain in jeopardy. They sit two points ahead of the MacEwan Griffins with one game left to secure their spot in the post-season.
Mount Royal opened the scoring in the 18th minute. A nice run from Moe El Gandour resulted in a shot that was initially handled by Greg Buckley in the Huskies' net but Canejo was all too willing to pounce on the rebound and put his team in front.
The Huskies refused to let the game get away from them however and responded with two goals of their own before the halftime whistle.
A free-kick from Nikolas Baikas in the 37th minute was beautifully weighted over the Mount Royal defence and Omar was able to put the ball into the net with a nifty finish off the side of his foot.
Just seconds later the Huskies took the lead for good when Gonzalez pounced on a loose ball from the Cougars' back-line and fired it past a helpless Kyran Valley.
"The fact that we were able to respond late in the half and then immediately again after that is a key thing for us," said Huskies head coach Bryce Chapman. "We were then able to come out in the second half and have full control, as a unit we were organized, fast and had lots of energy going forwards."
A back and forth second half saw little in the way of solid scoring opportunities before the game was broken wide open in the latter stages of play.
The excitement started when Buckley had to come well off his line and corral a dangerous shot from David Schaefer in the 82nd minute.
With momentum heading back the other way Mieyefa's first goal of the season could not have come at a better time for the Huskies when he was able to take a ball off a Mount Royal defender in the 18-yard box and quickly fire in a shot in the 85th minute.
"We wanted to play higher up the pitch on this smaller field," said Chapman. "Anytime you start sagging into your own end you give the opposition an opportunity and at this point in time in the season we don't want to give anyone an opportunity.
"The energy and commitment in the group was great, you look at Ekior, Kwame and Mason who came off the bench, I thought they were key players that kept the tempo going."
Buatois added the fourth Huskies' goal of the game in extra-time when the game was already well and truly settled.
Despite allowing the four goals, Valley was solid the Cougars net, recording eight saves in the loss.
Both of these teams will play their final games of the regular season on Sunday.
The Cougars will stay out on the road to face the Lethbridge Pronghorns at 2:15 p.m., while the Huskies will remain at home for their all-important match up with the Dinos at 2:00 p.m.
"The guys know what is at stake, getting a win puts us at home for the playoffs so we have spoken about embracing that opportunity and embracing that moment and I think the guys are up for it."