LETHBRIDGE – In a physical contest that saw six cards issued and a penalty kick for each team, the Thompson Rivers WolfPack scored twice in a span of nine minutes in the second half to hand the host Lethbridge Pronghorns a 3-1 loss in Canada West men's soccer action.
 
Justin Donaldson, James Fraser and Jan Pirretas Glasmacher scored in a winning cause for Thompson Rivers, while Ellis Davies picked up the 'Horns marker.
 
The loss pushed the Pronghorns record to 0-7-2 and is the team's fourth loss in a row. Thompson Rivers, rebounding from a loss a day ago in Calgary to the Mount Royal Cougars and sees their record improve to 2-2-4.
 
Only a minute into the contest, Thompson rivers was awarded a penalty kick following a hand ball in box off a corner kick, Pronghorn keeper Matt Vandervoort made the stop, but it was determined he moved too early and Thompson Rivers would get a second chance to open the scoring.
 
On the retake, WolfPack Justin Donaldson made no mistake, slotting the ball to the low left corner to give Thompson Rivers an early 1-0 lead.
 
Pronghorns had a good opportunity to tie the game in the 16^th minute. Landon let a screamer of a shot from 30-yards out but TRU keeper Jackson Gardner made a stellar diving save to preserve the WolfPack early lead.
 
In stoppage time, the Pronghorns were awarded a penalty kick of their own. Third-year defender Ellis Davies made no mistake from the penalty spot, leveling the game at one. The goal was Davies' second of the season.
 
With the wind gusting heavily at times and both team's tightening up their defensive structures, offensive opportunities were tough to come by in the early going of the second half.  
 
In the 70^th minute, the Wolfpack had a glorious chance to regain the lead with a set piece from just outside the Pronghorns box, but Daniel Sagno's attempt at goal sailed over the net.
 
Pronghorn first-year forward Tyler Quinn came dangerously close to giving the Pronghorns the lead a short time later. Quinn chipped a shot from just over 20-yards out but Gardner scrambled to just get a hand on the ball.
 
With only 14 minutes to play, Thompson Rivers defender Callum Etches sprung striker James Fraser with a brilliant through ball. Fraser calmly picked the corner for his ninth of the season and giving the WolfPack the lead.
 
Only minutes later, Thompson Rivers picked an important insurance marker. Denzel Marican laid a perfect cross to the far post to a wide-open Jan Pirretas Glasmacher. Glasmacher headed home his first of the season to seal the WolfPack victory.
 
On the day, the WolfPack were credited with 24 shot attempts to the Pronghorns 12, finding the mark 11 times, while the Pronghorns forced WolfPack keeper Jackson Gardner to make seven saves to earn the shutout.
 
Up next for the Pronghorns is a trip to Saskatoon next Saturday for one game versus the Saskatchewan Huskies. Thompson Rivers will return home to host division rivals Trinity Western Spartans and Fraser Valley Cascades next weekend.