Women's Soccer Huskies take single point from weekend against Thunder

The Keyano Huskies Women’s Soccer team had to settle for another weekend where the positivity from Saturday’s game was replaced with mixed feelings from a Sunday loss that could have been within their control.  
 
Facing off against the defending conference champion Concordia Thunder, the Huskies drew 3-3 Saturday before taking a narrow 3-2 defeat Sunday.  

“We probably deserved more than what we got out of both of those games,” Head Coach Niels Slotboom said. “Both those games could flip either way. I think in the first game especially we made some silly mistakes that we don’t typically make and Concordia good on them they were able to punish us for it immediately.  
 
“That’s the level that we’re playing at. Concordia is a strong team, they obviously won the whole thing last year. We know that we have to be on our toes and ready to go.”  
 
Saturday’s 3-3 draw featured three lead changes. The Huskies struck first off a beautiful lob goal by Rofyda Khaleel, but conceded a goal right before half time to go into the break tied. The Huskies’ second lead of the game came on a Marissa Mestre goal in the 53rd minute, but was equaled in the 74th minute by the opposition.  
 
After the Thunder took the lead in the 84th minute, the Huskies rallied to tie the game and manage a single point from the game rather than what looked like a loss late in regulation.  
 
“There was some really promising play and possession, some really nice goals that we scored in both games,” SLotboom continued. “That’s the silver-lining piece, but of course we want more out of a weekend than just a single point.” 
 
Sunday, the Thunder again broke through late in the first half, earning a 1-0 lead at the break. After going up 2-0, Nathalie Andersson joined the scoresheet with her first of two goals in the game, but the Thunder never relinquished the lead. Shortly after making it 3-1, Andersson converted on a penalty kick but that’s as close as they’d come.  
 
“We did really good in both games,” commented rookie Aimée Menting of the performance. “[The] second game we played more as a team. If we did it the first game, we probably would’ve won it.”   

While it’s rewarding to know the Huskies were right there with both the Thunder and Ooks, two of the three teams in playoff spots at the moment, getting just four points of a possible 12 is a hard feeling to take midway through their season.  

As for Slotboom, the challenge of facing the Thunder also represented the challenge of getting to the next level in their game as they push for a playoff spot.  
 
“That’s what the higher level looks like,” Slotboom said. “ It’s two good teams going against each other, two teams that are likely to be playoff teams. That’s what it’s going to be when teams are that close in ability and playing styles especially.   

“It’s maintaining focus and I think Concordia did a slightly better job than us in maintaining their focus throughout the game.” 

The Huskies are on the road this coming weekend, taking on the Portage College Voyageurs for a single game in Lac la Biche, Alta.