Keyano Huskies Weekend Preview: Futsal Huskies eye Championship berths in Lac La Biche

Photo by Robert Murray/Huskies Athletics

February 2, 2024

A late-season weekend bye for Keyano Huskies court sport teams means that futsal action is the lone action for the program this weekend, with both Men’s & Women’s squads headed to the Bold Centre in Lac La Biche, Alta. Both teams began the campaign with 5-0-0 records in January at the first tournament and will look to secure spots at March’s 2023 ACAC Men’s & Women’s Futsal Championships at Portage College in Lac La Biche.

Women's Futsal

Matchup: North Regional 2 (Competing against: Lakeland College Rustlers, NAIT Ooks, Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves, Portage College Voyageurs, The King’s University Eagles)
Record: 5-0-0, First in ACAC North Division
Location: Bold Centre (Lac La Biche, Alta.)
Schedule: All weekend, First game: Friday at 8:30 pm vs. TKU Eagles
Viewing Options: ACAC TV & Telus Optik 1998

Last weekend: The Huskies ran through the competition in the first weekend regional in January, outscoring their opponents 32-6 and moving to the top of the table with a 5-0-0 record.

Matchup: There are two goals for the Huskies this weekend: secure a playoff spot and secure the top spot in the division. There are four teams clamouring for two spots at the 2023 ACAC Women’s though, all sitting at 3-2-0 for the season.

After an opening match Friday against one of those teams, the Eagles from TKU, the Huskies will take on the Wolves and Voyageurs, who sit on the outside of the playoff picture. A full nine points there would confirm their spot in the Championship while Sunday’s results would determine seeding.

Key performer: Natalie Orellana. The ask for balanced scoring was answered in the first weekend with 12 different goal scorers for the Huskies. Orellana led that charge with eight goals to lead the Huskies, with nine players compiling multi-goal weekends. Having their leading goal scorer lead once again won’t be the only indication, but still a good sign of the Huskies’ success this weekend.

Men's Futsal

Matchup: While the Huskies had to battle to earn their 5-0-0 record, they do have a solid standing moving forward. Including Friday’s weekend opener against the Eagles, the Huskies have a big match against the Ooks Saturday morning. That early test against the second place team in their division early on in the weekend should provide the team with enough of a test to stay focused for the remainder of the weekend.

Though nothing is locked in yet, by virtue of the standings right now they stand to qualify with one of the two spots available to ACAC North Division squads outside of the championship-host Voyageurs.

Key performer: Hafid Arellano. Of the Huskies’ 18 goals through the first five games, Arellano leads his side with four goals, one ahead of teammate Cleisson Anklam and a quartet with two each.

If we’ve learned anything by now, Mr. Arellano loves to celebrate goals so seeing him on the scoresheet more this weekend will be beneficial to the Huskies and their results.