The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's soccer team will host the University of Calgary Dinos in Canada West quarterfinal action. (Huskie Athletics)

By Katie Brickman-Young

Team pushing for higher goals

WSOC: Huskies host Dinos in playoff match

Oct 29, 2021 | 7:17 AM

Something is brewing on the pitch for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

For the eighth straight year, the women’s soccer team is in the postseason. They host the University of Calgary Dinos tonight in Canada West quarterfinal action under the lights at Griffiths Stadium at Nutrien Park. This is the third time hosting a quarterfinal match on home field in the last four seasons for the Huskies.

“The team has been consistent all year and it’s been our goal to win our division and host a playoff game. I think it just shows that it is a reward for the work these girls have put in,” said Jerson Barandica-Hamilton, head coach of the Huskies women’s soccer team. “You still have to execute on the day, but I think it is a reward to all the work that has been done behind the scenes to get us to this point.”

The Huskies finished 7-2-3, sitting on top of the East Division and will face a difficult opponent in the Dinos, who finished second in the Central Division with a 9-2-1 record.

Historically, Calgary has the advantage in this matchup with a 39-6-15 all-time record against the Huskies, including three straight wins. The Huskies last won in 2015 against the Dinos.

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But the team is undeterred by history.

“At this stage, every game is going to be tough and if we want to be a national champion team, we are going to have to play these teams and find ways to beat them,” said Barandica-Hamilton. “We get to play them at home, and it is going to be a battle. They are good, but so are we. We like our chances because this group knows how hard they’ve worked and prepared to be at this stage.”

Driving the success on the pitch this season has been their veteran players, including leading goal scorers Maya Gabruch and Taneil Gay, both are fifth-year players.

“We’ve had our five fifth years that have done a lot for this program. This group came in together as rookies and went to nationals for the first time in our history, so they really understand what it takes to win at this level, and they have been great leaders for our younger players,” said Barandica-Hamilton. “Our young ones have the ability, trust and confidence to execute because they know there are senior players taking care of them. It has been a fantastic mix and I think the results prove it.”

Fifth year midfielder Taneil Gay is excited to host a playoff game at home.

For Gay, this season and opportunity are meaningful after a lost year due to the pandemic.

“It means a lot to be able to play at home in my fifth year,” she said. “A year ago, we didn’t have these opportunities. We were in the pandemic, and we couldn’t even see each other, so always having that in the back of our minds and knowing that we’ve waited so long for this.”

As much as the focus will be on their opponent, the Huskies also realize the groundwork they have set is now starting to pay off for their program.

“It just proves the consistency of what this program is and what we are building. This is something special we have taken the time to build, and we are just getting started,” said Barandica-Hamilton. “I think it is proving to ourselves and everyone that Saskatchewan is on the map for soccer, and we are doing something special.”

Barandica-Hamilton also said it’s time for the Huskies to break through – not just be a contender every now and then, but constantly be in the top five in the Canada West conference.

“Our conference is by far the most competitive conference in Canada, and we want to the be in the conversation every year. I think this team has proven that,” he said.

As the team takes to the pitch tonight (7 p.m., Griffiths Stadium), they are feeling excited, motivated, and inspired.

“These girls are motivated and excited, but we want to inspire the younger generation to take up soccer, to come out and support women’s soccer,” he said. “We want to be unique, and we want to do our part to inspire the next young girls who want to play soccer and play soccer in Saskatchewan and win.”

For Gay, being that role model for a younger generation means everything.

“It means a lot to be a role model. I know for myself, being a visible minority as well, and I know I am a role model and I want to be one for other females, but also to other visible minorities to show them that they can do this,” she said. “There may not be a ton of people that look like you on the pitch, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I am happy and proud that I’ve been able to be a role model to those kids.”