Heat strike late against Horns
The stoppage time heartbreak returned to haunt the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s soccer team.
However, this time the Horns didn’t come away empty-handed following a 1-1 draw with the UBCO Heat during Canada West play Saturday afternoon at the University of Lethbridge Stadium.
But the team’s first win was tantilizingly close as the Pronghorns protected a 1-0 lead well into stoppage time before the Heat were awarded a free kick in the final seconds that they didn’t miss to escape with the tie.
With the draw, the Horns are 0-4-1 as the Trinity Western Spartans pay a visit to the U of L Stadium today at 2:15 p.m.
“For 75 minutes I thought we were great and then we sat back and kept sitting back despite being told to push up,” said Pronghorns head coach Randy Bardock. “We don’t want to get beat over the top, but then we’re allowing a team to get three-quarters of the field and you can’t do that at this level.”
After a scoreless first half, the Horns struck first early in the second half in the 53rd minute when Stephen Primeau’s corner kick was deflected off Ellis Davies and past Heat goaltender Nicholas Reitsma. It was Davies’ first goal of the season.
The Heat pushed back and nearly knotted things up, but Hamish Walde’s header sailed just wide.
Primeau and Kyle Angerilli had free kicks afterwards, but could not find a way past Reitsma to pad the lead.
With the Pronghorns close to their first win of the season, the Heat were awarded a penalty kick and Walde made no mistake in draining the equalizer.
“I thought today we did a lot of silly fouls that gave them some opportunities in life that they really didn’t deserve,” said Bardock. “We have to be smarter in that regard."
Angerilli had two shots on goal for the Pronghorns and three shot attempts.
Davies, Primeau and Alasdair Coyle each added one shot on goal each as the Pronghorns outshot the Heat 6-2.
In women’s action Saturday, the Pronghorns were edged 1-0 by the Victoria Vikes in Victoria to fall to 0-4 this season.
Victoria scored in the 13th minute for all the scoring they would need to post the win as the Vikes outshot the Horns 9-7.
Lindsay Amatto and Grace Taylor each had two shots on goal.
Pronghorns goaltender Hanna Quinn made eight saves.
The women’s Horns remain on the road next weekend when they face the University of Manitoba Bisons and the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Saturday and Sunday, respectively, in Winnipeg.
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