VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies played to a scoreless draw during Canada West action Friday night at Centennial Stadium.
Huskies' goalkeeper
Jadyn Steinhauer picked up her second clean sheet of the season, as the fouth-year Agriculture and Bioresources student recorded a career-high 11 saves to preserve the draw.
The result moves Saskatchewan to 3-1-1 on the season, as the 2019 squad continues compiling positive results in one of the best starts in program history.
In what was a rematch of last year's Canada West play-in game, the Vikes came out with some extra motivation. The last time these two teams hooked up, the Huskies ended the Vikes season.
Georgia Bignold attempted a volley 12 minutes in, but got blocked by
Kalli Cowles. Her rebound came out to Kiara Kilbey, but
Taneil Gay smothered any possible scoring chances.
Twelve minutes later, Trinity Kettyls raced down the left side line for the Vikes and centred a header for Kilbey, but she couldn't find a solid connection. Kilbey stayed with the play and had another crack at it, but Steinhauer swallowed up the attempt.
Four minutes before half, the Vikes best opportunity came when Kilbey played the role of setup man instead of finisher. She was the pivot on a give-and-go entering the Huskies' zone with Brea Christie. The third-year defender had a clean look at the goal, but sailed it a few inches high.
A left-footed strike and another header by Kilbey led the way for the Vikes, but Steinhauer answered every attempt and made the required four first half saves.
An injury early in the second half tacked on more than double digits of injury time after the first 90 and a resurgent Huskies team saved their best for last to nearly steal the three points.
Deep into stoppage time,
McKenna Olson took the corner for the Huskies and found the top of
Payton Izsak's head. The header rocketed towards the top of the net, but Puck Louwes sprung out of her position to deflect it out of play.
A few minutes later, Louwes pounced on a hard baseline shot from
Cassidy Hayward.
One final rush for the Vikes came following those saves when Kilbey slammed on the breaks, went around a defender and tried to curl one from the end line, but fired it just wide.
The Huskies are back in action tomorrow night when they battle the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Vancouver (7:30 p.m.)
