LETHBRIDGE – Following a positive road trip to open the 2019 Canada West season, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women's soccer team returns home to host the first home games of the new season this weekend, welcoming a pair of Pacific Division teams.
 
The Pronghorns will take on the Victoria Vikes Saturday afternoon and the UBC Thunderbirds Sunday afternoon. Both games are slated for kick-off at noon and streamed live on www.canadawest.tv, presented by CO-OP.
 
A look at the teams:
 
In Edmonton a week ago, the Pronghorns (0-0-2) earned a pair of ties in hostile territory. In the season opener, the Pronghorns rallied from two goals down to earn a 2-2 with the always tough Alberta Pandas.
 
Returning to the program after a year away, Jesse Dueck kick started the comeback with a goal in the 67^th minute, while newcomer Tory Clements recorded her first career goal in her hometown to complete the Pronghorn comeback.
 
The following day, the Pronghorns were able to withstand a strong offensive attack from the MacEwan Griffins and come away with a 0-0 tie to complete a two point weekend. Chelsey Galbraith made nine saves to stymie the Griffins attack, en route to being named the Pronghorn player of the game.
 
The Victoria Vikes (1-1-0) opened the season at home with mixed results. In the season opener, the Vikes battled for a 1-0 win over the visiting Fraser Valley Cascades on a second half goal from Nikki Virk.
 
The next day, the Vikes battled back from two goals down to enter the second half tied 2-2 with the defending Canada West Champion Trinity Western, only to surrender a late goal to fall 3-2.
 
Similar to the Pronghorns, the UBC Thunderbirds (0-0-2) opened the new season with a pair of ties. Facing the Spartans in the season opener, the T-Birds played the defender conference champions to an even scoreless draw, out shooting the Spartans six-to-four.
 
Wrapping up the first weekend of conference action, the T-Birds received a goal from Sophie Damien with less than three minutes to play to erase a one goal deficit to the Cascades to pickup the 1-1 draw on their home field.
 
Up Next:
 
The Pronghorns head out on the road next weekend, traveling to Prince George to face the UNBC Timberwolves, and Calgary to take on the Calgary Dinos.