DAVID LARKINS, Wesmen Athletics

Not content to just celebrate a chance to play again, the Winnipeg Wesmen went out and earned a point Saturday against one of the Canada West conference's top teams.

Playing a conference match for the first time since October 2019, the Wesmen women's soccer team got some timely stops, had some opportunities of their own and ultimately came away with a 0-0 draw against the Saskatchewan Huskies at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex.

In the conference opener for both teams, the Wesmen generated some quality opportunities against the Huskies, Canada West's pre-season No. 5-ranked team.

"We were excited to play and I'm really pleased that we came out with good energy," Wesmen head coach Amy Anderson said. "We've made a few progressions from a couple of years ago and we're hoping to just keep building from that.

"A huge credit to the girls. A lot of them gave up their whole July when we got the green light to train. With that time we've been given, the girls have really been on board and I'm really pleased."

Both sides had opportunities that could have swung the game late.

First, Winnipeg's Karrisa Schneider took a step inside the box on the left side and curled a shot that hit the far post and deflected away in the 55th minute.

Later, a through-ball sent Saskatchewan's Maya Gabruch free on a run from 30 yards out, but Wesmen keeper Taryn Raabe came out to challenge and Gabruch pushed the ball wide right.

The Huskies generated 21 shots, 11 on goal, while Winnipeg had 14 shots, 13 on goal.

"It's Game 1 of 12, so it's baby steps from here," Saskatchewan head coach Jerson Barandica-Hamilton said. "I thought we did what we wanted to do minus put the ball in the net, which is sometimes the hardest part. But, yeah, a lot of positives and obviously a lot of things that we need to get sharper at. But overall it was just great to see our team get out and have the opportunity to play."

Raabe stopped 10 shots for her second career clean-sheet, while Jadyn Steinhauer did the same in the Saskatchewan net.

Schneider led the Wesmen with six shots, five on goal, as did Payton Izsak for the Huskies.

A number of Winnipeg's young players made their first appearances in Canada West play Saturday as well.

Second-year forward Madisyn Furber, a back-up keeper as a freshman, earned her first career start and registered her first career shot on goal in the second half. Freshmen Jazmyn Castro, Jessica Munoz and Tori Hauptman each earned their first career starts, and freshmen Kia Pang and Sydney Arnold both came off the bench for their first career appearances.

Defender Drew Kennedy, a third-year transfer from Manitoba, played 90 minutes in her first appearance as a Wesmen.

"With Sydney Arnold … at halftime I zeroed in on her and asked her to be more physical because I didn't think she was getting as involved as she could be," Anderson said. "And then she responded. She was physical and she really helped us out. She has great size, she's a great athlete so she's really helping us (on the back line)."

The two teams will meet again Sunday at noon on Field 2 of the Cantafio complex.

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