SASKATOON – Payton Izsak scored two goals in the second half to help the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's soccer team to a 2-0 upset victory over the Victoria Vikes in a Canada West Play-in game on Oct. 26.
 
The rookie midfielder from Prince Albert, SK scored in the 59th minute to swing things the way of Huskies, before tallying again in outstanding fashion with eight minutes left to play to put the game out of reach.
 
"Payton was unbelievable, scoring two phenomenal goals with class finishes and I'm super proud of our young group," said Huskies head coach Jerson Barandica-Hamilton.

The Huskies were pegged as underdogs coming into the game for a number of reasons. This Vikes squad finished fifth in the nation last season, the Huskies regular season record of 4-6-4 was well back of the Vikes 7-6-1 tally and finally when these teams met just two weeks ago in Saskatoon, Victoria rolled to a 4-0 victory.
 
None of that mattered on the day however, as a youthful Huskies squad came out playing some of their best soccer of the year at the most crucial time.
 
"In the last twenty minutes of that first half they were all over us and we did well to weather the storm," said Barandica-Hamilton. "We came out in the second half knowing that we were in this position two weeks ago and we let it slip away. We played the best half of soccer that I have seen our team play this year against a very quality Victoria team."
 
The win sends the Huskies on to the next round of the Canada West Playoffs where they will face the host Calgary Dinos on Oct. 28 at noon.
 
Jadyn Steinhauer made eight saves, including several spectacular ones in the first half, to record her third-straight shutout and pick up the win.
 
A back-and-forth first half ended with the teams tied at 0-0 thanks in part to some heroics from Steinhauer and her defenders.
 
The first clear-cut scoring opportunity came in the 33rd when a scramble ensued off a Vikes' corner kick.
 
The ball fell to Katie Carrothers who unleashed a blast from just outside the six-yard box, but Steinhauer stood her ground and was able to corral the shot to her left.
 
Victoria nearly scored the game-opening goal just four minutes later but desperate defending from Olivia Fredrickson snuffed out the chance.
 
While the Huskies were out-shot 7-4 in the first half, they saved their best for the latter stages of the game.
 
With the pressure from Saskatchewan beginning to mount, Izsak broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when the Huskies took advantage of a fortuitous bounce.
 
A clearing attempt from the Vikes defence bounced off the referee and fell right to the foot of Taneil Gay. The third-year midfielder calmly played a pass through to Izsak who powered a shot low and past the outstretched arms of a diving Puck Louwes.
 
Finishing games strongly had been an area of concern for a Huskies team that began the year with four-straight ties in which they led three of those contests with less than ten minutes remaining.
 
There would be no letdown today however, as the team kept their foot on the gas pedal and continued to launch attacks towards the UVic penalty area.
 
"Our biggest fear was getting ahead and then laying on the 1-0 lead, we wanted to attack and generate chances and we did that," said Barandica-Hamilton.
 
Izsak put the game away in the 83rd minute when she went on a beautiful run past two Vikes defender before depositing the ball into the back of the net.
 
The Huskies' road to the Canada West Final Four will continue to get harder on Sunday when they take on a Dinos squad that finished the season with a 13-1-0 record and in first place in the Prairie Division.
 
"No one gave us any chance in this game, but we believed in what we can do," said Barandica-Hamilton. "We have nothing to lose, we are going to enjoy this victory and get ready for another big battle, it can be done and the girls believe, that makes us dangerous."