Alberta sweeps U of L on ice and the hardwood

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s hockey team will look to rebound on the other side of town this afternoon.

The Horns were defeated 5-2 by the Alberta Golden Bears in Canada West play Friday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

Lethbridge will go for the weekend split today when their rematch against the defending Canada West and national champions shifts to the Enmax Centre at 2 p.m., which will also be the site of the U-Sports University Cup, March 14-17.

On Friday night, the teams were tied 1-1 after the first period before the Golden Bears scored twice in the second and third periods to pull away and improve to 8-2-0, while the Horns are 4-7-0.

Russell Maxwell opened the scoring with a power play 2:01 into the game for a 1-0 Pronghorns lead.

With the Golden Bears up 4-1 in the third, Dalton Sward scored shorthanded at 14:11 to briefly pull the hosts within two before Alberta added an empty-netter with 1:13 remaining.

Fifth-year Pronghorn Justin Valentino drew assists on both of his team’s goals, while goaltender Garret Hughson stopped 38 of 42 shots.

In the women’s game in Edmonton, Pronghorns goaltender Alicia Anderson stopped 46 shots as the teams kept it scoreless throughout regulation and overtime before the Pandas prevailed in the shootout.

The shootout loss puts the Pronghorns at 3-61-1 as the teams wrap up the weekend today at 2 p.m.

On the basketball court Friday, the Pronghorns women’s and men’s teams were handed their first losses of the Canada West season.

The Horns women were defeated 68-62 by the Alberta Pandas Friday night in Edmonton, while the men were topped 85-72 by the Golden Bears. Both Pronghorns teams are 4-1 with the losses. In the women’s game, the teams kept it close late before the Pandas pulled away for the win that improves them to 5-2.

Kacie Bosch had 12 points for the Pronghorns while Danielle Fritzke came off the bench and also posted a dozen.

Amy Mazutinec also hit double digits for Lethbridge with 11 points and added eight rebounds and nine assists. Bosch also had eight boards.

In the men’s game, leading scorers Mike Pierzchala and Zac Overwater scored 29 and 20 points, respectively. Overwater and Colton Gibb each hauled in six rebounds and Kyle Peterson had a six-assist night.

The teams return to the court tonight. The women’s game is at 5 p.m. with the men at 7 p.m.