SASKATOON, Sask. – After scoring just three minutes into Sunday's (Aug. 31) match, the University of Calgary Dinos escaped Griffiths Stadium with a 1-0 win, outlasting the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskie Men's Soccer team.
With the loss the Huskies fall to 0-2-0 through their opening weekend of the 2025 season while the Dinos improve to 3-1-0 after kicking off their campaign a week ago.
It was an aggressive start for the Dinos who came out with immediate pressure on the Huskie backline. As a result, they were awarded a corner kick in opening minutes. Calgary capitalized on the early opportunity with an impressive set piece ending in a Joey Plenzik header to open the scoring.
With the Dinos pressing the attack, Saskatchewan relied on rookie goalkeeper
Kieran Behan who was filling in the injured
Jaron Slopinski on opening weekend.
Midway through the opening frame Saskatchewan had found their footing in the match and began pushing the pace. After getting the ball deep into the Dino zone,
Misgana Killoh received the Dogs first real chance of the game but was tackled by Calgary's Milan Ponjevic prior to getting the shot away.
Despite another pair of dangerous chances from
Ethan Cabral and
Tao Hein, both missing high on shot attempts, Calgary's early goal would be the only tally in the first half.
The second half saw the Huskies continue to pressure the Dinos, but unable to get one past keeper Hany Shafie, despite out-shooting the visiting team 13-6 by the final whistle.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Behan continued to give the Dogs second chances into the second half and would finish the game with five saves.
The Dogs' best chance to tie the match came in the dying seconds of added time. Freshman midfielder
Dante Molina received a great look after a deflected ball rolled out of a pack and onto his foot. Despite the great look, Shafie was able to get out in front just in time, with the referee blowing the final whistle just after the save.
The Huskies will return to action next weekend when they head to Edmonton to take on the MacEwan Griffins and Alberta Golden Bears. Calgary meanwhile will return home to host cross-town rival Mount Royal.
