SASKATOON – In a match loaded with Canada West playoff implications, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies scored twice in the second half and picked up their fourth consecutive victory with a 2-1 win over the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Field 7 in Nutrien Park.
 
It was a tale of two halves. After MacEwan hopped out to a lead in the first half thanks to a Sofia Di Giacomo tally, Saskatchewan scored twice in the final 45, with goals from Maya Gabruch and Jenelle Zapski. Gabruch's eighth-goal of the season moves her into a tie for fifth in program history for goals scored in a single season, while Zapski, a fifth-year forward, found the back of the net in her final weekend of regular-season action at the Canada West level.
 
Forward Taneil Gay was sensational in the match for Saskatchewan, as she assisted on both goals in the win.
 
The Huskies and Griffins now each sit with 27 points on the season, with Saskatchewan controlling their own fate in the race to finish atop of the Prairie Division. With a win on Sunday afternoon the Huskies would clinch first, due to now holding a tie-breaker over MacEwan thanks to the victory. The Huskies now have picked up at least a point in seven consecutive matches, while the win snaps the Griffins two-game winning streak.
 
Saskatchewan goalkeeper Jadyn Steinhauer stopped five of the six shots she faced on the night, including a timely save in the 78th minute.
 
MacEwan goalkeeper Emily Burns turned aside four of six shots on the opposite end of the pitch.
 
In the early-going of the match, it was the Griffins who had the best chance to open the scoring, but Jamie Erickson's header off the corner-kick sailed over the top of the crossbar.
 
But in the 35th minute, the visitors opened the scoring. Di Giacomo tallied her fourth goal of the season to vault her club into the early 1-0 lead.
 
MacEwan controlled play throughout the majority of the first half, outshooting the Huskies 4-2.
 
The Huskies had a high-quality scoring chance in the 58th minute, as Gay was sprung on a partial breakaway, but Burns did a tremendous job to get her hands on the shot from the fourth-year forward to keep her club's one-goal lead intact.
 
However, the home side was eventually rewarded. Gay crossed in the ball to Maya Gabruch, who tapped home her eighth goal of the season to tie the match at one goal apiece.
 
With the Griffins pressing to take the lead, it was Steinhauer who kept the score tied, as the keeper provided the save of the match in the 78th minute.
 
The timely stop appeared to give the Huskies momentum, as play went the other way and in the 80th minute, Zapski buried her third goal of the season off of the cross from Gay, as the fifth-year forward provided a massive goal for her club to put them ahead 2-1 in the late-going.
 
From there, the home side was able to weather the storm of the visitors and escape with a huge three-points.
 
Saskatchewan will take on Alberta tomorrow afternoon at Field 7 in Nutrien Park, as they look to close their regular season with three-points in what will be Jackson Wiegers, Jenelle Zapzki and Hannah Gannitsos-Clark's final regular-season games on their home turf.
 
Meanwhile, MacEwan will round out their regular season in the province of Saskatchewan, when they travel to the Queen City to take on the Regina Cougars.