Horns hang on for the win
The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s soccer team have posted their first win of the season.
Wrapping up a two-game northern swing to Edmonton last weekend, the Pronghorns edged the MacEwan Griffins 21 in Canada West action Sunday afternoon.
Despite a slow start and getting outshot 22-11 by the Griffins — who also had a goal waved off in the second half — the Pronghorns got goals from Kyle Angerilli and Dominique Point du Jour for the win that improves them to 1-2-1 on the season following a 1-1 draw with the Alberta Golden Bears Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, it was the Griffins who held a 1-0 lead that could have been 3-0 if not for some timely saves from Lethbridge goaltender Nolan French.
Sam Foster gave MacEwan a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute. Griffins Zibusiso Moyo and Lahai Mansaray also had chances in the first half, but were turned aside by French as MacEwan nursed a 1-0 lead into the half despite leading 122 in shots and 6-0 in shots on goal.
That opened the door for the Horns to pull even when Angerilli put a shot off a Griffins defender and past keeper Josh Letendre off a throw-in from Andrew Primeau.
The Griffins almost took the lead in the 61st minute on another goal from Mansaray, but the goal was negated on an offside call.
Lethbridge then struck for the game-winner when Point du Jour scored on a rebound.
The Griffins cranked up the pressure looking for the gametying goal, holding possession for nearly the entire final 20 minutes.
French robbed Griffin Michael Ho on a diving save and then got a piece of a shot from Lewis McDowell to preserve the one-goal lead.
The Pronghorns’ next action in their home opener Thursday when they welcome the Calgary Dinos to the University of Lethbridge Stadium at 7 p.m.
The Horns are back home Saturday at 2:15 p.m. when they take on the Mount Royal Cougars.
The Pronghorns women’s team starts their Canada West reason on the road. They’re in Calgary on Saturday to face the Cougars and head to Edmonton Sunday to tangle with the Pandas.
Their home opener is Sept. 16 when they host the University of Fraser Valley Cascades at noon.