SASKATOON, Sask. - Shelby Williamson scored the tying goal on powerplay early in the third period Friday night (Oct. 17) but the University of Saskatchewan Huskies could not close out the win, suffering a 2-1 overtime loss to the Trinity Western Spartans in their 2025-26 home-opener at Merlis Belsher Place.

With the overtime loss, the Huskies fall to 1-1-1 on the season after coming into the night as one of just two teams with fewer than four games played. For the visiting Spartans meanwhile, the result improves the team to 3-2-0 and sitting in second place in the Canada West West Division.

After both teams exchanged power play opportunities in the opening frame, the Spartans would head back to the advantage with just over five minutes remaining. Despite the Huskie penalty kill holding firm, the power play generated a late chance as Kyra McDonald found Jordyn Matthews with a cross ice pass. The forced Colby Wilson to stretch out to her right, opening up the five hole for Matthews' first of the season.

The second frame once again saw both teams receive chances on the power play but unable to covert with both Wilson and TWU goalie Kate Fawcett shutting the door.

As the two teams returned to the ice for the third, the Huskies once again found themselves back on the advantage after the Spartans were called for tripping at the seven minute mark. With just over thirty seconds remaining in the Huskie powerplay, Khalen Wisener sent a shot from the point which after initially being stopped by Fawcett, was corralled by Shelby Williamson who got the puck up and over the goalies pad to tie things at one apiece. For the fourth-year forward the goal marked her first of the season and just the second of her USask career.

After 60 minutes could not decide a winner, the two teams headed to overtime where it took just 22 seconds for the visiting team to tally the game-winner. After receiving a point pass from Kyra McDonald, Presleigh Giesbrecht fired a shot from the point which beat Wilson glove-side for her third of the season.

The Huskies and Spartans will return to the ice at Merlis Belsher Place tomorrow (Oct. 18) for the second game of their weekend series. Puck drop is set for 5:00 PM with the game also serving as the Huskies celebration of World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend.