After an up-and-down first home weekend of the season, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's soccer team (1-2-1) will remain home this weekend and will have its hands full with the CIS fifth ranked Saskatchewan Huskies (4-0-0).
The first of two games on the weekend is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the University Community Stadium. Game two goes Sunday, also at 2:15 p.m.
Last weekend versus the MacEwan Griffins, it was a tale of two different efforts for the Horns. After putting forth a dominant performance Saturday afternoon, beating the Griffins 3-0 and not allowing the Griffins to register a shot on goal, the Pronghorns generated a lacklustre performance on Sunday and dropped a 3-1 decision to the same Griffins.
Coming off their first ever CIS Championship tournament appearance last year, the Saskatchewan Huskies have started the season on a torrid pace, outscoring their opponents 16-3 in posting four consecutive wins. The Huskies had a bye last week, but handily beat MacEwan University two weeks ago, 5-0 and 5-1.
Following this weekend’s games, the Horns will not be home again until Oct. 18-19 when they host the Calgary Dinos.
Karp's Korner
At the conclusion of Saturday’s game, the men’s soccer program will be hosting an official dedication of 'Karp’s Korner', a playground at the stadium that is being built to recognize and honour former player and current Horns assistant coach Marcus Karpati, who is battling cancer. Marcus has a passion for children and soccer and the Horns soccer program felt that this was a way to combine these passions at a location that means so much to him.
Women hit the road
Following a four-game homestand, the Pronghorns women’s soccer team (0-4-2) begins a stretch of four consecutive games on the road with a pair of matches this weekend in Winnipeg versus the Winnipeg Wesmen.
The Horns are scheduled to take on the Wesmen Friday and Saturday night with both kick-offs scheduled for 6 p.m. (CST).
Through six games this season, the ‘Horns have been sound defensively but their offensive attack has not been able to find its stride. The U of L has only surrendered seven goals in six games, including three goals in the first game of the season, but have only scored one goal in those six games.
Second-year goalkeeper Micaela Stone made her first appearance of the season last weekend and had a solid performance, combining for 13 saves over two games versus the Regina Cougars. She surrendered just one goal, in the Horns' 1-0 loss on Sunday.
Early in the season the Winnipeg Wesmen (0-4-0) have also had their struggles and have yet to earn a point. In a scheduling quirk, the Wesmen have only played one game in each of the past two weekends and were shutout during both games losing 2-0 to the Manitoba Bisons two weeks ago and 2-0 to MacEwan last Saturday.
The Horns will not see action at home again until October 18-19, the final weekend of the Canada West season.