SASKATOON – Fraser McLeod's first career U SPORTS goal in the late going of the second half was all the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's soccer needed to pick up a 1-0 win over the Calgary Dinos on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 at Griffiths Stadium.
 
In the 86th minute McLeod, a first-year midfielder from Saskatoon, provided the breakthrough. Huskies goalkeeper Marcus Baxter delivered in the free-kick from the Huskies side of the half and from there,Jacob Powell headed the ball to McLeod, who tucked home the marker to give the Huskies their third-consecutive victory.
 
"It felt awesome. It was a big relief because it was an open chance, and I needed to finish it. It was an intense game, we had lots of chances, and it was about time," McLeod said. "It's so awesome for the team. The momentum is finally going, and things are clicking. Three wins in a row now, and we're moving up the standings."
 
With the win, the Huskies have now picked up at least a point in six of their previous seven and improve their record on home turf to 4-1-1.
 
Saskatchewan moves to 4-3-4 on the season, and vaults ahead of Calgary in the Canada West standings, who fall to 5-6-0. The Huskies now sit in second in the Prairie Division with 16 points, while Calgary sits just back with 15 points.
 
"At this point in the season, it becomes a grind. When a young team like we had out tonight really buys in and doesn't give them many opportunities, despite us not creating much, it shows how important it is to play disciplined and wait for that chance. Luckily enough, Fraser took advantage of that chance late in the game," said Huskies head coach Bryce Chapman.
 
Baxter recorded the second clean sheet of his Huskies career after the rookie keeper picked up his first last Saturday afternoon in a 2-0 victory over Lethbridge. The Saskatoon native made the save on his lone shot he faced on the night.
 
Dinos goalkeeper Jake Ruschkowski stopped three of the four shots he faced on the night.
 
Each club had opportunities to strike in the early going, as Nikolas Baikas sailed his shot from inside the box over top of the net. Moments later, at the opposite end of the pitch, second year William Fiore's curling free-kick narrowly missed wide right of the cage. 
 
Saskatchewan held a 2-0 advantage in shots on goal over Calgary at halftime, who was unable to record a shot on goal through 45 minutes.
 
While Baikas had a quality chance in the 49th minute, from there, it was a quiet second half for both sides, as neither was able to muster up any real chances offensively, that was until McLeod's late marker in the 86th minute.
 
Following the goal, Saskatchewan was able to defend soundly in the final minutes of play, sealing the 1-0 victory for the home side.
 
The Huskies will conclude their home portion of their regular-season schedule in a match against the Mount Royal Cougars on Sunday afternoon at Griffiths Stadium. Meanwhile, in other action on the pitch in the Canada West this weekend, the Dinos will trek back west to take on the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
 
All of that action can be watched online at Canada West TV presented by Co-op.