EDMONTON – Habib Assem scored in the opening minutes, and keeper Chris Ezoua would help the Bears hold on for a slim 1-0 victory in their Canada West opener Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.
 
There were 13 combined saves in the contest, with 7 coming from the Pronghorns fourth-year goalkeeper Armaan Thawer who was sensational. Ezoua also impressed with 6 of his own, including a last-chance clearance from the line in the 64th minute.
 
The win puts the Bears at 1-0-0 on the early season, while the Pronghorns move to 1-1-0 after winning a 2-0 contest yesterday at MacEwan. It did not take long for the Bears to strike in their 2023 campaign, as the second minute of the game saw second-year forward Assem net one home on the first shot of the contest to give Alberta an early lead.
 
That would not be the end of the offensive pressure for Alberta, as they spent the majority of the first half in the attacking end putting up 16 shots – five of which were on target. Lethbridge was able to get some good opportunities when they had the chance, shooting three balls on net and forcing fifth-year Bears keeper Ezoua to be sharp.
 
The Pronghorns goalie Thawer was mightily impressive in the half, parrying aside five attempts - a couple of which were phenomenal leg saves. The visitors came out of the half swinging with two superb scoring chances within the first five minutes, but Ezoua was able to push both aside. Both goalkeepers were impressive in the contest, but it certainly showed in the second half.
 
After the Pronghorn opportunities, Thawer made an incredible one-handed above-bar parry off a well-placed corner-header Bears set piece. Then five minutes later, Ezoua denied two Pronghorn successive shots, one of which was trickling over the goal line but he was able to make a desperate clearance with his feet to keep the slim Alberta lead.
 
The teams would go back and forth for the remainder of the second half, threatening but not coming particularly close to scoring in the last 20 minutes of play.