LETHBRIDGE – Powered by two penalty kicks and four first half goals, the Lethbridge Pronghorns picked up their second win of the season with a 4-2 win over the visiting Calgary Dinos.
The win gives the Pronghorns a season sweep of the Dinos and improves the season record to 2-9-1. Earlier this season, the Pronghorns beat the Dinos 2-1 in Calgary.
The Dinos, who are in a fight for third in the Prairie Division, see their record fall to 3-6-3 with the loss. Entering the weekend, the Dinos were tied for third with MacEwan with the Griffins holding a game in hand. After the loss, the Dinos are only three points ahead of the Saskatchewan Huskies for the final playoff spot.
Karim Bey Scored twice for the Pronghorns, both from the penalty spot, while Damon Field and Kai Sakaguchi scored the other two goals in the win. Eryk Kobza and Decklin Mahmi responded for the Dinos.
Just as the game hit the two-minute mark, the Pronghorns were awarded a penalty kick after midfielder David Musk was taken down in the box. Karim Bey stepped to the spot and slotted home his second of the season to the low left corner.
Dinos had their first quality opportunity in the 12
th minute on a misplayed clearing attempt. Eryk Kobza stepped into a half volley, but Pronghorn keeper Armaan Thawer was in perfect position to make the save.
Lethbridge doubled the lead in the 15
th minute off a set piece. Will Hughes feed a ball from the left flank across to the far post to a charging Damon Field, who volleyed home his second goal of the season.
Only minutes later, the Pronghorns upped the lead to 3-0 on a second penalty kick of the half and Bey would again pick the lower left corner. The goal was the third of the season and tied him with Danilo Morales for the team lead in goals.
With less than five minutes to play in the opening half, Thawer made an outstanding diving save off William Omoreniye's free kick from 25-yards out.
Just short of first half stoppage time, the Pronghorns upped the lead to four off a wild scramble. Off an initial save by Dino keeper Jake Ruschkowski, Holden Lehr slid a ball to a wide-open Kai Sakaguschi for a tap-in.
Early in the second half, off a Pronghorn turnover, Kobza had a clear chance from inside the Pronghorn penalty area to get the Dinos on the board, however he rang his shot off the post.
Off the third penalty kick of the game, the Dinos got on the scoreboard in the 63
rd minute. Kobza picked the low left corner and cut the Pronghorn lead to 4-1.
Playing with the wind in the second half, the Dinos continued to pressure the Pronghorns and were nearly rewarded in the 74
th minute. Omoreniye turned quickly and fired a shot just wide.
In stoppage time, the Dinos cut the lead to two with Decklin Mahmi curling a ball over Pronghorn keeper Thawer, but that would be as close as the Dinos would get.
The Pronghorns will be back on home turf on Sunday hosting the Prairie Division leading Mount Royal Cougars, kick-off is slated for 2:15pm. The Dinos will head to Saskatchewan to play the Huskies on Sunday in Saskatoon.