Marcello Gonzalez
Huskie Athletics

Men's Soccer By Matt Johnson, Huskie Athletics

PREVIEW: Huskies look to stay hot against Pronghorns

Game Information
 
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Venue: Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Watch: Canadawest.tv
Get in the Action: Tickets
 
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies continue their five-game homestand on Saturday afternoon when the Lethbridge Pronghorns come to town in what will be the Huskies lone match of the weekend.
 
Saskatchewan split the past weekend with a win and a loss against a pair of Pacific Division foes in the form of the Trinity Western Spartans and UBCO Heat.
 
Despite a dominant first-half, the Huskies were unable to find the back of the net and fell on Saturday afternoon to the Spartans by a 2-0 score.
 
However, Saskatchewan bounced back with a 2-1 victory on Sunday, taking down the Heat in thrilling fashion after a tremendous long-range strike from second-year forward Nikolas Baikas.
 
Saskatchewan holds a 2-1-1 record at home this season and will have a prime opportunity to pick up a crucial three-points with the last-placed Pronghorns, who have yet to pick up a point away from home, coming to town.
 
The Pronghorns welcomed the Fraser Valley Cascades and Thompson Rivers Wolfpack to Lethbridge last weekend but fell in both of their matches on home turf.
 
Saskatchewan sits comfortably in third place in the Prairie Division. The Huskies trail the Calgary Dinos by five points for the second spot in the division, but lead the Golden Bears by three points, with the top four teams qualifying for the postseason.

10 Things
 
1: Saskatchewan has picked up at least a point in their last five matches against Lethbridge dating back to Aug. 26, 2017.
 
2: The Pronghorns have yet to win a match this season, as they come to Saskatoon with an 0-7-2 record after losing their last four consecutive contests.
 
3: Lethbridge has not defeated Saskatchewan on the road since the 2005-06 season where the visitors picked up a 1-0 victory.
 
4: The Huskies and Pronghorns tied back on Sept. 7, 2019, in Lethbridge, which provided the Pronghorns with one of their two points on the season.
 
5: Baikas became the first Huskie to find the net at least twice this season, as entering last weekend nine different Huskies had scored once in the team's seven games.
 
6: The Huskies sit in third in the Canada West in shots with 124, while the Pronghorns sit in the bottom of the conference with 63.
 
7: Baikas is averaging 4.11 shots per game, which is tops in the Canada West.
 
8: Lethbridge has been outshot in every match they have played this season.
 
7: Baikas and Marcus Baxter are the lone Huskies to play every minute for Saskatchewan this season.
 
10: Lethbridge is averaging .667 goals-per-game this season which is last in the conference, as they have found the net six times in nine games in 2019.
 
Scouting the Pronghorns
 
Pronghorns head coach Randy Bardock has been at the helm of the men's soccer program since 1991.
 
Since the 2001-02 season, Lethbridge has only made the postseason once, which took place with an 8-6-2 conference record, before falling to UBC in the CW quarter-finals.
 
Despite only having three shots on goal through eight games, third-year midfielder Ellis Davies is leading his club in scoring with two goals this season. The Calgary native has already matched his single-season high of two goals, which he has hit in each of his two seasons with the program.
 
Matthew Vandervoort has played every minute as the Pronghorns goalkeeper this season. The fifth-year Calgary native has allowed 22 goals this season and holds a .718 save percentage.
 
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Players Mentioned

Nikolas Baikas

#17 Nikolas Baikas

FOR
5' 10"
First
Aden Bowman Bears
Marcus  Baxter

#RS Marcus Baxter

GK
5' 10"
First
Whitecaps Academy

Players Mentioned

Nikolas Baikas

#17 Nikolas Baikas

5' 10"
First
Aden Bowman Bears
FOR
Marcus  Baxter

#RS Marcus Baxter

5' 10"
First
Whitecaps Academy
GK