Keyano Huskies Weekend Preview: Soccer Huskies continue regular season while Volleyball Huskies serve up exhibition play
Women's Soccer Preview
Games: Saturday at 12:00pm vs. Lakeland Rustlers (3-1-0) at Lloydminster, Alta., Sunday at 12:00pm vs. Lakeland Rustlers (3-1-0) at Lloydminster, Alta.
After an important six points at home, the Keyano Huskies Women’s Soccer team (2-1-0) will head onto the road for a pair of crucial games in the Border City against the Lakeland College Rustlers.
While the Huskies will face a stronger ask against the Rustlers than perhaps, they faced against the Wolves, they’ll have an added confidence to tackle this weekend’s challenge.
“Everything they’ve gone through with the new coach, bit of a different style, different expectations on how we’re playing and how we breakout, how we play defence I think they needed to see results to keep that confidence building,” Head Coach Tiffany Fontaine said. “We’re working on finishing; we’re working on a lot of opportunity in front of the net. Now we’re trying to fine tune the details.”
The two sides met on August 25 in exhibition action with the Huskies emerging with a 4-1 victory. Things will be different this time around though and Fontaine is eager to see how the two sides match up.
“It’s building blocks at that stage,” Fontaine said of the exhibition result. “You don’t know if they’re playing all their starters, you don’t know what kind of injuries they’re nursing, you don’t know if they’re still working on a different formation tactically.
“I think those are learning games, which means we can take a little bit from assessing individual players, but it’s difficult to know what they’re going to come out as a full group and how they’re going to play now that they’ve seen us as well.”
Player to watch: Ayla Taller (Edmonton, Alta.)
After notching two goals and five assists in last weekend's wins, Ayla Taller will look to factor into the Huskies' offence once again. Not only did she score twice herself, but setting up goals for teammates Marissa Mestre and Harleen Singh over the weekend allowed the Huskies to diversify their attack more, with five different Huskies finding the back of the net over the weekend.
Men's Soccer Preview
Games: Saturday at 2:00pm vs. Lakeland Rustlers (3-0-1) at Lloydminster, Alta., Sunday at 2:00pm vs. Lakeland Rustlers (3-0-1) at Lloydminster, Alta.
The Keyano Huskies Men’s Soccer team will look to put an end to a troubling stat against the Lakeland Rustlers while also keeping pace with the leaders in the ACAC’s North Division this weekend in the Border City.
“Every weekend now is go time,” Head Coach Niels Slotboom said. “There’s no points that you can drop really anywhere That’s how the North has been for a few years now. There’s a whole bunch of very good teams that are right around each other.
“On any given day, anyone can beat anyone. Details are going to be super important. Consistency is going to be really important. We got rid of some of that inconsistency last week and throughout the week of training here. I’m hopeful that the guys put out a good product.”
With points as precious as ever, the Huskies will also be on the lookout to end what has been an unfortunate stat for both programs the past two seasons. The last win by a road team in a regular season or playoff game came way back on October 9, 2021. While that meant two important wins at home for the Huskies at the end of last year, it also serves to remind them of a 4-0 loss and 1-1 draw two years ago in their last trip to Lloydminster.
Another stat the Huskies will be looking to dispel is the Rustlers’ goals against, which still stands at 0 after a scoreless draw and three-straight 2-0 results on their end. While an exhibition matchup at the end of August provided some insight, Slotboom knew his side would be in for a tough test regardless.
“I know the program really well being an alumni,” Slotboom said. “I have a pretty good idea of how they operate and what they look like. They don’t try to do anything different most years, but that’s what makes them dangerous.
“They’re very good at what they do. They’re quite aggressive and they’re very organized. It’s always a challenge playing against them. As a group, we know what they are and they’re going to be a handful.”
Player to watch: Cleisson Anklam (São Luiz Gonzaga, Brazil)
One of the Huskies’ most important leaders on the pitch and in the dressing room, Cleisson Anklam has also found the back of the net twice in his career against the Lakeland Rustlers. Even more peculiar is that both of his goals against the Rustlers have stood up as the game-winning goal in each match. Last October, his goal elevated the Huskies to a 2-0 advantage, with the 2-1 win securing their spot at the top of the North Division. Then, way back on October 19, 2019, his goal in the 73rd minute stood up as the winner in a 4-2 result at Shell Place between the two sides.
Men's Volleyball Preview
Games: Friday and Saturday at 2024 FOG Classic in Edmonton, Alta.
Friday at 1:00pm vs. University of Alberta Golden Bears
Friday at 6:00pm vs. The King’s University Eagles
Saturday at 10:00am vs. University of Calgary Dinos
Saturday at 2:00pm vs. SAIT Trojans
For the first time since their trip to Japan, the Keyano Huskies Men’s Volleyball team will be in game action against another school as they face four different opponents throughout Friday and Saturday.
“We have a good opportunity to get different lineups out on the court and see how those groups perform,” Head Coach Keegan Kuhr said. “Also, it will be a good gauge to see where we sit in the league this year.
“It should be a lot of fun.”
They’ll have an immediate test Friday afternoon against the defending U SPORTS National Champions but will also face a pair of ACAC foes in The King’s University Eagles and SAIT Trojans. Saturday’s action will also feature a morning matchup against the University of Calgary Dinos.
Women's Volleyball Preview
Games: Friday and Saturday at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alta.
Friday at 2:00pm vs. Lakeland Rustlers
Friday at 6:00pm vs. Augustana Vikings
Saturday at 9:00am vs. Olds College Broncos
Saturday at 1:00pm vs. Concordia Thunder
With plenty of new faces in their Pack, the Keyano Huskies Women’s Volleyball team travels to the Border City this weekend to take on a set of four ACAC opponents.
“I'm excited to discover a lot about our group,” Head Coach Tommy Sloan said. “We have a lot of new faces that are learning to play together, and I'm looking for us to raise our level of intensity throughout the weekend.”
Though the weekend is more about learning about their own lineup and trying out the student-athletes in game situations, the Huskies will face stiff competition to start, facing off against the defending national champion Lakeland Rustlers. The tough tests will continue against a University of Alberta at Augustana Vikings team that finished second in the ACAC’s North Division last season.
Saturday, the Huskies will take on the Olds College Broncos and renew their rivalry against the Concordia Thunder.