SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's soccer team picked up their second-consecutive victory with a 2-0 win over the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Griffiths Stadium at Nutrien Park.
 
Kuhle Bekwayo and Gabriel Buatois each tallied from the penalty spot and their goals were all Saskatchewan needed to get past Lethbridge, as the Huskies move to 8-0-2 all-time against the Pronghorns in Saskatoon.
 
Saskatchewan goalkeeper Marcus Baxter recorded the first clean sheet of his U SPORTS career. The first-year was sharp when tested in the match, making four saves, while also picking up a couple of well-delivered crosses in the first half.
 
Lethbridge goalkeeper Matthew Vandervoort stopped one of the three shots-on-net he faced, with the penalty kicks proving to be the difference in the contest.
 
The Pronghorns edged the Huskies in shots on goal, which was a first for the club this season.
 
The Huskies moved to 3-3-4 with the victory in what is their lone match of the weekend.
 
Saskatchewan is 3-1-1 at home and will be playing their final home games of the regular season next weekend. The Huskies continued their success against the Pronghorns with the win, as the club has now picked up at least a point in six-consecutive matches against their Prairie Division counterpart.
 
The loss marks five-consecutive defeats for Lethbridge, with their last positive result coming on Sept. 7 in a draw against Saskatchewan. The Pronghorns fall to 0-8-2 on the season.
 
After a quiet start to the match, Nikolas Baikas delivered in a great ball, which allowed Bekwayo to run onto it and put Vandervoort in a pinch, as the keeper was forced to bring down the first-year midfielder in the box. From there, the Saskatoon native converted from the spot for his second goal in the last four matches to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute.
 
Saskatchewan wasted little time to add to their lead after coming out of the locker room for the second half. The hosts dialled up the pressure, and Ajani Fountaine was brought down in the area to allow the Huskies a chance to add to their lead from the spot. From there, Buatois, a fifth-year midfielder, was called upon and made no mistake with his strike, blasting it past Vandervoort.
 
The Huskies continued to press in the 58th minute after a scramble in the box, Bekwayo got the ball over to Kwame Opuku whose attempt inside the area connected with the crossbar allowing the visitors to stay within striking distance.
 
The Huskies continued their search for their third goal of the game in the 62nd minute when Bekwayo nearly potted his second goal of the game with a booming strike from 20-yards out, but his crack missed just left of the net.
 
The Pronghorns were presented with their best opportunities of the match in the late going of the second half after Landon Veluw's ball got the visitors on the attack. However, Baxter was able to make a pair of tremendous saves on Benjamin Kutas and David Velazquez from inside the box, ensuring the shutout for the rookie netminder and the 2-0 Huskies' win.
 
The Huskies will conclude their five-game homestand next weekend when they welcome the Calgary Dinos and Mount Royal Cougars to Griffiths Stadium. Saskatchewan will be looking for revenge against the pair of Prairie Division foes, as each was able to take care of business against the Huskies on their home field earlier in the season.
 
Meanwhile, the Pronghorns will also take on the Dinos and Cougars, with Calgary coming to town on Thursday, Oct. 3, while Mount Royal visits on Sunday, Oct. 6, as the club will search for their first win of the season.