EDMONTON – The Saskatchewan Huskies fell 3-1 Saturday afternoon to the Alberta Pandas at Foote Field in Edmonton.

The match had big playoff implications, with the Huskies (7-3-3, 24 points) missing out on a chance to clinch a quarterfinal berth. Alberta (8-4-1, 25 points) moves into second in the Prairie division.

The Panadas outshot the Huskies 15-4 in the match.

Brooke Lang finished a tik-tac-toe sequence started by second-years Adrienne Poulin and Wanda Czebreszuk for her third goal of the year in the 15th minute. The goal put the Pandas up 1-0, a lead that would be built on in the 38th minute with another Lang goal; this one a beautiful headed finish. In the 45th minute Adrienne Poulin potted her tenth of the year to stretch the lead to 3-0. 

Huskies first-year keeper Nadia Kalyar had a busy half, facing 9 shots on target and parrying 6. 

The second half was quieter than the first, with four Huskies halftime substitutions effectively softening the high-octane Panda attack. The Huskies were unable to break through until third-year striker Cassidy Hayward potted one past Autumn Wynn in the 88th minute to break the clean sheet. 3-1 is how the game would finish.

The Pandas play their regular season finale tomorrow at Foote Field against the Regina Cougars (1-6-5), while the Huskies travel across the North Saskatchewan to take on the Prairie Division winners and U SPORTS #5 ranked MacEwan Griffins (10-2-0). Live stream of the match is available on CanadaWest.TV.