Taller, Mestre continue to shine as Women's Soccer Huskies sweep Rustlers on pitch

In their bid to play in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference’s (ACAC) second season, the Keyano Huskies Women’s Soccer team have been in pursuit of winning results and a full 180-minute weekend performance.  

Taking care of the former this past weekend against the Lakeland College Rustlers in Lloydminster, Alta., the Huskies also turned their attention towards the latter. 
 
“We had a great first day,” Head Coach Tiffany Fontaine said. “We were executing, we were tracking, we were following the play, passing was beautiful for the most part. It was a strong day. Overall, we were connecting, and the chemistry was fully strong.  
 
“Sunday, it was just a little bit messier. We still pulled off the result and we were still able to pressure them enough and we still looked like the stronger team. We have to mentally and physically be ready the next day to still put on the performance and be sharp.”  
 
Saturday’s game, a 7-0 win, featured hat tricks by Marissa Mestre and Ayla Taller, with Taller also adding a pair of assists. The second goal of Rofyda Khaleel’s ACAC outdoor career also featured in the match.  
 
Sunday, the Huskies struck in the eighth minute off the foot of Natalie Orellana while Mestre added her fourth goal of the weekend, and program-leading 27th, off a penalty kick in the 89th minute. Gaelyn Verdin stopped a combined 16 shots on target throughout the two games to pick up a pair of wins and a pair of shutouts.  
 
Focused on improving her club regardless of the result, Fontaine talked about the challenges of going from a lopsided result the first day to a closer result in the rematch a day later.  
 
“I think it’s mental for most players and athletes,” she said. “It’s hard to walk away from one game winning 7-0 without a little bit of edge and a little bit of overconfidence.  
 
“Going into that next game, you can tell yourself as much as you want that you need to reset, you need to play whistle to whistle, start-to-finish. Deep down, you feel like it might come just as easy. We need to fix that.”  
 
Pairing Taller and Mestre continued to pay dividends for the Huskies, with the pair both in the top four for the entire conference in both goals and points. Taller leads the conference in assists (7) while teammate Harleen Singh is close behind with five.  

“They’re working really well with each other, but I want to say off each other,” Fontaine said of Mestre and Taller. “They’re both very fast; they’re both very physical. They put a lot of pressure on the backs. When one is doing that the other is reading the play really well that when the shots or the rebounds happen they’re connecting that way.  
 
“Our wings did a really good job in that first game, putting pressure on their backs as well to make sure that the balls were coming through. It seems to be a growing relationship that I hope keeps moving in the positive direction for both of them.”  
 
The Huskies return to action on the home pitch this weekend, welcoming the NAIT Ooks to town. Saturday’s kick-off is scheduled for 2:00pm with Sunday’s rematch at 12:00pm.  
 
Prior to Sunday’s kick-off for the Women’s game, there will be a ceremony in recognition of the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation.