SASKATOON - With a 2-1 victory Sunday on Field 7 in Saskatoon's PotashCorp Park, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies completed a weekend sweep of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns to open the 2017 Canada West men's soccer season.
Saskatchewan held a two goal lead late into the second half of the match after goals in the 42nd and 61st minutes. Lethbridge converted on a penalty kick in the 76th minute to get on the board, but couldn't find the equalizer.
With the weekend sweep, the Huskies start the season 2-0-0, while Lethbridge starts 0-2-0. Saskatchewan won 1-0 a day earlier in the series.
The Huskies opened the scoring just before half with an own goal. Gabriel Buatuis' corner kick went into the box, bounced around and ricocheted off 'Horns keeper Matthew Vandervoort into the goal in the 42nd minute.
Saskatchewan added to their lead in the 61st minute when first-year Kwame Opoku found the end of another Buatuis corner to score his first university goal.
Lethbridge cut the lead in half in the 76th minute after the Huskies' were called for a handball in the box. Ellis Davies converted on the penalty kick beating Huskies' keeper Kyle Moore to the right side of net.
The Pronghorns' continued to put pressure on the Huskies earning two more quality chances in the last 10 minutes of the match. Davies missed wide right, while Moore got a hand on Dominique Point du Jour's high shot.
Moore finished the game making three saves for the Huskies, while Vandervoort made four saves at the other end of the pitch for the Pronghorns. Saskatchewan outshot Lethbridge 12-11 in the match.
Both the Pronghorns and the Huskies travel to Edmonton to meet the MacEwan Griffins and Alberta Golden Bears next weekend.