SASKATOON – A tally from Taneil Gay was the difference-maker as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's soccer team recorded a 1-0 victory over the Regina Cougars in Saskatoon on Oct. 11.
 
"I thought it was a typical Provincial rivalry game, they had a couple moments where they could have hurt us and I thought we had plenty of opportunities as well," said Huskies head coach Jerson Barandica-Hamilton. "In these types of games it is the quality and composure at the end that matters, you have to take your chances and we did that."
 
The win was the sixth of the season for Saskatchewan who continue their push to host a playoff game. Their record of 6-2-3 currently has them first in the Prairie Division, just barely clear of the Alberta Pandas and MacEwan Griffins who both hold games in hand on the Huskies.
 
Regina, firmly in a playoff position for the second year in a row, falls to a record of 3-5-3 with the loss.
 
A back-and-forth Provincial rivalry game was scoreless after the first half despite both teams accruing their fair share of chances.

Regina's best chance came from a dangerous run by Kyra Vibert. The third-year forward got in behind the Huskies' defence, but not Jadyn Steinhauer as the keeper raced off her line to make one of her eight saves in the contest.
 
The Huskies' best chance came right at the stroke of halftime. An errant goal-kick found its way to Jenelle Zapski and the fifth-year forward beat Kylie Bolton in the Cougars net with her shot, only to see it ring off the crossbar.
 
Saskatchewan opened the second half controlling possession and it was only a matter of time until they found the breakthrough.
 
"We just told the girls to believe a little bit more in our ability to possess the ball, to take a breath and allow ourselves to develop our combinations and we did that a lot better in the second half," said Barandica-Hamilton. "We took the sting out of the game and really controlled the possession, McKenna Olson and Cassidy Hayward came in and did a great job of that."
 
The all-important goal came in the 71st minute.
 
Hannah Zdunich-Costa swung in a corner kick and Gay got to the ball first in the ensuing scramble, sending it past outstretched hands of a sprawling Bolton.
 
The game was anything but over after that goal however as Steinhauer was repeatedly called into action.
 
Regina's nearly tied the game immediately after the game when Kirsten Finley broke in all-alone. Steinhauer stood her ground however and made a pair of diving stops to preserve the victory.
 
With eight saves in the game, Steinhauer now as 61 on the season, moving her into a tie for second in program history.
 
Both of these teams will be back in action tomorrow, as they play the second leg of the home-and-home set in Regina at noon.