Two Garrett Peters goals seven minutes apart lifted the University of Saskatchewan Huskies over the University of Victoria Vikes 2-0 in a Canada West semifinal at the men's soccer final four in Saskatoon Friday afternoon.
Peters goals came in the 23rd and 30th minutes of the first half.
The win booked Saskatchewan in the Canada West Championship match for the second straight year and to the CIS Championship next weekend hosted by the UPEI Panthers. Â The Huskies will face the Alberta Golden Bears, who defeated the reigning champion UBC Thunderbirds 2-0 in the first conference semifinal earlier in the day.
Saskatchewan dominated play in the first half of the match using the wind to their advantage. The Huskies outshot the Vikes 16-4 in the first frame.
Peters' first goal came from a scramble in front of the net. Canada West First Team All-Star keeper Noah Pawlowski made two initials stops before the ball bounced onto the foot of Peters. His quick kick rolled into the net in the bottom right corner in the 23rd minute.
Seven minutes later, regular season leading scorer Brett Levis sent a corner kick into the box. Peters' header popped over an leaping Pawlowski.
Late in the second half, Victoria's best opportunities to score came on corner kicks. But each time, Saskatchewan keeper Michal Bandula was able to collect the ball above the crowd. In the final two minutes, a long shot by Alex Redpath was stopped by Bandula and another quick shot by Justin Donaldson-Andrade was blocked by a Huskie defender.
Despite the loss Pawlowski was strong in net for the Vikes making six saves. Bandula, Canada West Second Team All-Star, made four for Saskatchewan.
The bronze medal match featuring the Thunderbirds and Vikes is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, while the championship final is at 2 p.m. between the Huskies and Golden Bears. Both matches are on Field 7 in Saskatoon's PotashCorp Park.
