Game Information
 
Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Venue: Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Watch: Canadawest.tv
Get in the Action: Tickets
 
SASKATOON – After finishing off the regular season in tremendous fashion, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's soccer team will play host to the visiting Victoria Vikes in a Canada West quarterfinal match under the lights on Saturday night.
 
Saskatchewan took care of business over the weekend, with a pair of wins over Prairie Division opponents in the Alberta Golden Bears and MacEwan Griffins to finish off their regular season on a high note. The victories helped close the Huskies regular season on a six-game winning streak, one of the longest in program history.
 
Meanwhile, Victoria closed their regular season campaign off with a loss in Langley against Trinity Western and are entering the playoffs on a bit of a skid, as losers of three of their four matches and will be hoping they can right the ship come postseason time.
 
The Huskies and Vikes played out a 2-2 draw on Sept. 15 in Victoria, where Mason Ogoke scored a late-minute equalizer to help the visitors escape with one-point.
 
However, the rematch will take place on home turf, where the Huskies held an impressive 5-1-1 record at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park during the regular season. Saskatchewan, who has not lost in Saskatoon since Sept. 21, are hoping their success on their own territory pays dividends in their chase towards qualifying for their first Canada West Final Four since 2014.
 
10 Things
 
1: Over their six-game winning streak, the Huskies have received goal scoring from across the lineup. Of their nine goals during the win streak, eight have come from different members of the club.
 
2: Saskatchewan's 0.595 winning percentage is their best since the 2015 season.
 
3: The Huskies are looking for their first Canada West title since 2014 when they defeated the Vikes in the semifinal 2-0 in Saskatoon that season, en route to a 4-2 victory over Alberta in the championship match.
 
4: Saskatchewan is 1-1-2 in matches against Pacific Division opponents, while Victoria is 2-0-1 against Prairie Division opponents on the season.
 
5: The Huskies have won three of their past four matches on home turf against the Vikes, dating back to 2012.
 
6: Saskatchewan is playing host to their third consecutive Canada West quarterfinal, with the program losing in both 2017 and 2018. The Huskies fell in penalty kicks to the visiting Fraser Valley Cascades last season.
 
7: The Huskies hold a 12-45-10 record against the Vikes all-time.
 
8: Victoria led the Canada West with seven shutouts this season.
 
9: Huskies goalkeeper Marcus Baxter is third in the Canada West with a 1.07 goals-against average this season.
 
10: The match will serve as one final opportunity for Jacob Powell, Gabriel Buatois, Marcello Gonzalez and Darko Hardi to suit up on home turf. The quartet of fifth-years looking for a win to ensure their U SPORTS careers will see another a weekend of action.
 
Scouting the Vikes
 
Bruce Wilson, who is in his 32nd season at the helm of the Vikes men's soccer program, helped the club qualify for their first postseason appearance since 2015.
 
Victoria has 12 Canada West Championships and five U SPORTS national championships in program history and is chasing its first conference title since 2009.
 
Fourth-year midfielder Isaac Koch has been excellent for Victoria this season, as the West Kelowna, B.C. native led the Canada West with 18 points during the regular season, after registering ten goals and eight assists. After missing all of last season with an injury, Koch tallied ten of the 24 goals in 2018-19.
 
Meanwhile, third-year forward Ian Whibley is in the midst of a career year for the Vikes. The Errington, B.C. native registered six goals and four assists during the regular season.