LETHBRIDGE – Battling the heat wave in southern Alberta and one another, the MacEwan Griffins escaped with a 3-2 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on the strength of a late second half penalty kick.
 
Danilo Morales scored both goals for the Pronghorns, while Stefan Gajic scored the winning goal MacEwan from the spot in the 80^th minute, Rakan Yassin and Egonz Jeteshi scored in the first half for the Griffins.
 
The loss drops the Pronghorns to 0-2-0 early into the Canada West season, while the Griffins pick up their first win of the season and improve to 1-1-1.
 
Playing their first game at home under new Head Coach Davin Haigh, the Pronghorns got off to the start they were looking for, opening the scoring in the third minute.  Will Hughes cross from the far flank found fourth-year midfielder Danilo Morales deep into the Griffins box. Morales' header back across the Griffin keeper Joshua Stayko proved to be perfectly placed in the low far corner.
 
After over 20 minutes of near even play, MacEwan drew even in the 28^th minute. Abass Ajibade wiggled free from his defender and cut a pass back to a wide open Rakan Yassin and while Pronghorn keeper Tegan Romaine got a hand on the Yassin shot, he could not get enough of the shot to keep it out of the net.
 
Just over four minutes later, the Griffins capitalized on a Pronghorn turnover. Chance Carter gathered the ball and laid it off to his right to Egonz Jeteshi and Jeteshi ripped a shot to the low corner to give the Griffins their first lead of the game.
 
Off a free kick in the 42^nd minute Karim Bey narrowly missed tying the game hitting the crossbar but the Pronghorns wouldn't have to wait long to tie the game at two.
 
Midfielder Alasdiar Coyle laid a ball through the middle of the field to Morales, who calmly slotted home his second of the game.
 
Out the break the Pronghorns upped the pressure and had two good looks to break the deadlock in the first 15 minutes of the second half, however both Karim Bey and Kai Sakaguchi had shots sail wide of the mark.
 
Just prior to the mid-point water break due the heat, Yassin had the Griffins best look but his shot from just outside the Pronghorn penalty area was just over the crossbar.
 
In the 80^th minute after a foul in the 'Horns box a penalty was awarded. Stefan Gajic stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake to put the Griffins up 3-2.
 
Almost immediately following the penalty, the Griffins were called for a pass back to the keeper and an indirect free kick on the 10-yard line. Karim Bey kick went off the Griffins wall and to touch for a corner kick. Unfortunately, the Pronghorns were unable to capitalize on the corner kick.
 
Continuing to push forward, the Pronghorns had another opportunity in injury time with a free kick just outside of the Griffins penalty area but the Pronghorns could not get on the end of the ball swung into the box.
 
The Pronghorns will wrap up the weekend Sunday afternoon hosting the Alberta Golden Bears, kick-off is slated for 2:15. MacEwan continues their road tip traveling to Saskatoon to face the Saskatchewan Huskies.