LETHBRIDGE – Securing their first points of the season, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns used a complete 90-minute effort to hold the University of Alberta Golden Bears to a 1-1 draw.
Heading into the match, the Golden Bears had yet to be defeated in regulation, while the Pronghorns were in search of their season's first win.
With the draw, the Pronghorns move to 0-5-1, while the Golden Bears move to 2-0-3.
The Pronghorns would open the game with an early double-doink scoring chance. A free kick from thirty yards out would bounce off the left post, before being deflected off the top crossbar by Golden Bears goalkeeper Liam Collens.
Lethbridge's pressure would continue in the 25
th minute as second year Alasdair Coyle would intercept a Golden Bears pass, maneuvering past a Bears defender for a direct shot fifteen yards out.
The Bears would respond on offense with chances of their own. A pretty sequence of one touch passes from Alberta would find the foot of Carlos Patino, who would turn and shoot from thirty yards out for a high-quality chance. Fifth-year Pronghorn keeper Nolan French would extend to his left to keep the game scoreless.
The 'Horns would open the second half with a high-quality chance, only to be thwarted away by a strong challenge by Liam Collens. The home side would continue to press, with chances in the 56
th and 59
th minutes. In the 61
st minute, Garry Onyejelem of Alberta would find his curling strike bounce off the top crossbar, being denied the game's first goal.
Just as it seemed that neither team could solve the other's defensive formation, the teams would trade goals at the 76
th and 79
th minutes.
First, a Golden Bear corner kick would be headed by Noah Cunningham, right onto the left foot of Canada West's all-time leading scorer Ajeej Sarkaria who would turn and finish to give Alberta the lead.
Not to be outdone, rookie midfielder Will Hughes would track a long pass from Pronghorns defender Thomas Denness, finishing with his left foot to tie the game 1-1.
The teams will run it back tomorrow afternoon at University Community Stadium, with kickoff set for 2:15PM.
