Cougars edge Horns
The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer team was knocking, but couldn’t quite get in. The Pronghorns lost a close 1-0 decision to the Regina Cougars in Canada West play Saturday afternoon at the University of Lethbridge Stadium.
But unlike last week when the Horns got their first two goals of the season, the hosts were unable to make it three games in a row as Regina scored in the first half and then held Lethbridge at bay the rest of the way despite a few late chances for the home side down the stretch.
With the loss the Pronghorns fall to 0-6-1, two points behind the Winnipeg Wesmen and three points back of the 0-3-4 Saskatchewan Huskies, who hold down the final playoff spot in the Prairie Division and pay a visit to the U of L Stadium today at noon.
“Soccer, as we all know, is a 90-minute game and today we had one error that cost us a goal,” said Pronghorns head coach Ilsa Wong. “We pushed and got a lot of decent chances in the second half, we changed a few things up and the girls really responded to it. We got some chances, but we couldn't find the back of the net.”
Brianna Wright scored in the 22nd minute for the Cougars for the only goal of the game.
Regina outshot the Pronghorns 6-2 in the first half before the Pronghorns took over on the shot clock in the second half, outshooting the Cougars 9-5.
The Pronghorns had a prime chance in the final 15 minutes when Raeleen Vanden dungen broke in down the right side and hooked a shot on goal, but Cougars goaltender Kylie Bolton was able to get just enough of a hand on the shot to deflect it over the cross bar.
Vanden dungen and Aislinn Williston each had two shots on goal while Lindsay Amatto — one of the Pronghorns two goal scorers last weekend — had the other shot.
“We’re definitely getting more offense, which is nice to see, and getting more shots and pushing up there,” said Amatto. “We just can’t seem to finish yet and like Ilsa said, a little mistake in the first half on the goal they got. Hopefully we can take the pressure we had in the shots and move into tomorrow and take that one.
“The changes and the response we had in the second half was definitely good. We were pushing and getting the chances, but that being said, we need to have that the whole game and hopefully we can pop one in earlier so we’re not trailing the entire game. But the changes we made I thought definitely pushed us a bit more."
Saturday’s loss makes it crucial to pick up some points today against a Huskies team within striking distance in the standings.
“Every game we have to get some points out of,” said Wong. “We’re in a position right now where we have to start getting some points if we want to make a push for playoffs. So tomorrow is another team, like this team, we expect will come at us and if we play like we did today then maybe we can keep possession, keep moving forward, keep getting those chances and at some point they’ll come. We’re a different team this year, we’re building a bit more this year than we have in the past.”
Pronghorns goaltender Chelsey Galbraith made two saves in Saturday’s loss.
On the men’s side, the Pronghorns were blanked 3-0 by the Prairie Division-leading Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton to fall to 0-8-1 on the season.
The win not only improves the Golden Bears to 8-0-2, but also clinches them a playoff spot.
Alberta scored twice in the first half and once more early in the second half en route to the shutout win and had five shots on goal compared to the Pronghorns three.
Lethbridge goaltender Nolan French made two saves as the Pronghorns get ready to take on the MacEwan Griffins today at 2:30 p.m.
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