Courtesy: Huskie Athletics

By Wray Morrison

Huskies Get Ready For World Cup

Women’s soccer team is ready to learn from the game’s best

Jul 12, 2023 | 3:22 PM

The 2023 Women’s World Cup schedule nicely coincides with the start of the University of Saskatchewan women’s soccer season and the team hopes to take full advantage. Canada opens against Nigeria on July 20^th. The Huskies begin training camp on August 1^st and Saskatchewan will play its first exhibition match on August 18^th in Lethbridge.

Players will not only be cheering on Canada. but closely watching for new strategies in the international game. “We (Team Canada) are coming in with some younger players”, said Huskie fifth year forward Hailey Weber. “There are some players that have never been to a World Cup before, but there are always veterans like Sophie Schmidt and Christine Sinclair that will be around to be bring that leadership.”

There are some similarities in the make-up of the rosters of both Canada and the Huskie women’s soccer team. Saskatchewan has 8 recruits and 1 transfer joining the team this season. The similarities aren’t lost on 3^rd year defender Anna Oliver. “All the younger players need to be just as ready as the older players, because you never know when you are going to get your opportunity.”

The Huskies finished the 2022 season with 7 wins and 3 draws, good enough for a 3^rd place finish Prairie Division of the Canada West standings. Saskatchewan advanced to the quarter-finals before falling to the defending conference champion Trinity Western Spartans. “We want to close the gap”, said head coach Jerson Barandica-Hamilton.

“The core of our group is maturing at a good stage. We are going to have a lot of 3^rd and 4th year players. It’s the perfect position for us to have a really good season. We’re there. It’s just, how do we get over that small hump?”

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Barandica-Hamilton believes the 2023 Women’s World Cup can be a strong learning tool for his team. “Beyond bonding and learning, there will be plenty of tactical exercises we are going to be doing for training camp. We are going to give the players three different games to analyze in small groups, based on position. They’ll break down video of the top players. It’s for them to watch and learn, but also to teach each other.

Amy Prokop, who has been an assistant coach with the Huskies since 2015, sees the World Cup as an opportunity to bring past and present members of the U of S women’s soccer team together to watch the Canada-Nigeria match. “I’m thrilled to have our alumni, who are really passionate about soccer, be with our current athletes. Hopefully it will give the team a lot of inspiration, motivation and get the players excited for the upcoming season.”

“For me and my generation, we have been watching these players since I was young”, said Prokop. “I think the momentum has been building for years. It’s the most exciting time to be a women’s sports fan.”

The Huskies begin conference play on August 26^th against the MacEwan Griffins in Edmonton. The Manitoba Bisons visit the U of S campus on September 9^th in Saskatchewan’s home opener at 2pm at Griffiths Stadium.

For tickets visit: https://usask.universitytickets.com/

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @wraymorrison