SASKATOON – Neither team was able to find the back of the net Sunday, Aug. 25 as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Alberta Golden Bears settled for a 0-0 draw in a defensive stalemate on the turf of Griffiths Stadium.
 
Saskatchewan had the run of play in the first half, but were unable to get anything past Chris Ezoua in the Golden Bear net. In the second 45 minutes of action it was Alberta's turn to crank up the pressure, but Marcus Baxter was equal to the task to pick up the first shutout of his Canada West career.
 
"It was a tale of two halves, I'm a little disappointed we didn't finish our chances in the first half but this was still a positive result," said Huskies head coach Bryce Chapman. "We finished with a clean sheet and I still think overall it was a better performance than Friday."
 
Saskatchewan out shot Alberta 9-3 in the contest and also held the edge in corner kicks, recording nine to the Golden Bear's six.
 
"It was a very difficult game, we were under a lot of pressure in the first half but defended very well around our box," said Golden Bears head coach Martin Fenger-Andersen. "At halftime we made a couple adjustments and were able to get a little closer to their goal and create a few chances but overall I think it was a fair draw."
 
The first real chance of the contest came in the 11th minute of action when Mason Ogoke unleashed a shot on net that Ezoua was able to tip onto the crossbar where it bounced out of play.
 
Ezoua was again called into action 30 minutes later when rookie midfielder Kuhle Bekwayo gathered the ball near the far sideline and sent in a curling effort that the second-year goalkeeper was again able to tip up onto the crossbar to keep the game scoreless at the halftime break.
 
"Chris was huge," said Fenger-Andersen. "He is a young goalie who will be important for us and those are the types of saves that keep teams in games. That gave us a chance to get a point, so we're very happy with Chris."
 
Alberta took command of the game in the second half and their best chance to claim victory came just moments after the restart.
 
Hafltime substitute, Garry Onyejelem went on a run down the wing and his cross into the box found the foot of Noah Cunningham, but the defender sent his effort just over the bar.
 
"It was a change in attitude and approach, in the first half we were too passive, let them have the ball too easily," said Fenger-Andersen on what his team changed at the half. "In the second half we tried to get forward and put a little bit of pressure on them and I thought we did that but didn't do quite enough to earn a victory."
 
Scoring chances were few and far between throughout the rest of the contest as the two team's ended the annual Bateman Cup game all knotted up at 0-0. The Bateman Cup recognizes the first varsity sports competition between the two schools in 1911 and honours Reginald Bateman, the first English professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and all of those who have lost their lives defending our country.
 
After the game, Chapman was pleased on the work his team did defensively.
 
"We took care of the back better, were cleaner and won more defensive moments but the big turning point was in the midfield, our midfield won more second phase balls," said Chapman. "Kuhle Bekwayo, Marcello Gonzalez and Jacob Powell did a really good job in there and that was a big change from Friday, when we were outnumbered and didn't win those second knockdown balls, they were able to fix that today."
 
The draw leaves the two teams deadlocked in second place in the Prairie Division of Canada West soccer after the opening weekend, with both claiming four of a possible six points so far in 2019.
 
"The big message is that that is an important point against Alberta, it's important to pick up four points from a home weekend at an absolute minimum and we got better than we did on Friday," said Chapman. "This weekend was very much about making sure we get better and are growing within our group towards what we want to accomplish."
 
Saskatchewan will be back in action next weekend when they hit the road to take on the Mount Royal Cougars and Calgary Dinos. Alberta has a bye next weekend before returning to action September 7 and 8 against those same Cougars and Dinos.