SASKATOON – A goal with just one minute left in regulation time was the difference-maker in a tightly-contested 2-1 victory for the Calgary Dinos over the host Saskatchewan Huskies on Sunday, Sept. 15.
 
"I can't fault the girls, everything we spoke about in training – the energy and commitment levels was there – today just wasn't our day, so I'm proud of them," said Huskies head coach Jerson Barandica-Hamilton.
 
With time winding down and the game looking to be destined for a draw, first-year forward Alison Pedersen went on a long solo run that ended with her finding the back of the net to deliver the Dinos the victory.
 
The goal was one of two in the game for the rookie Pedersen, with her first tally opening the scoring just before halftime.
 
Maya Gabruch responded for the Huskies, as the fourth-year forward scored her conference-best fifth goal of the season in the 80th minute of play.
 
The contest was a game between two teams that are near the top of the conference in the young 2019 season. The loss brought an end to the perfect start of the season for the Huskies, who now hold a record of 3-1-0. Calgary meanwhile, moves to 3-0-1 with the victory.
 
"It's different for us, for years we were on the rise and were the underdogs chasing teams," said Dinos head coach Troye Flannery. "This year we got some poll love so to speak in the Canada West and U SPORTS rankings, so everybody has a game plan designed for us, which brings a different set of challenges."
 
Calgary came out of the gates the better of the two teams, holding possession of the ball for long periods of time as Saskatchewan was content to sit back and force the visitors to try and break them down.
 
That stalemate was broken in the 44th minute.
 
Amy Mikuska whipped in a corner kick that found its way to the foot of Pedersen and the rookie made no mistake to open the scoring, sending the teams into the break with Calgary leading 1-0.
 
Saskatchewan took more of an initiative moving forward in the second half and were almost immediately rewarded for their efforts.
 
Substitute Cassidy Hayward let got a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that Dinos' goalkeeper Lauren Houghton just managed to tip over the cross bar.
 
After the teams traded chances throughout the middle portion of the half, Gabruch knotted the game back up with 10 minutes left to play.
 
Jenelle Zapski sent in a perfectly weighted pass that Gabruch ran onto and blasted off the bottom of the cross bar and into the back of the net.
 
"What a pass, what a run, what a finish, Maya is on fire," said Barandica-Hamilton. "They are a tough team to play against, we needed to play at 100 per cent with every single player contributing to play against that team, so kudos to Calgary."
 
From there it was the last-minute heroics from Pedersen that finished off the game and cemented the final score of 2-1.
 
Both of these teams will be back in action next week. The Huskies will travel west to play Victoria and UBC while the Dinos will return to Calgary to host Mount Royal and Lethbridge.