Rich Abney, UNBC
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. -
Mount Royal's Daniel Harrison scored 16 minutes into the Cougars' match with UNBC, and despite the Timberwolves' best effort, it held up as the game winner for the next 74 minutes, as MRU goalkeeper Kyran Valley did the rest.
"We had a gameplan, and we knew what we were going to do the whole time, so we were sticking to that," said Kyran Valley. "Three points is three points, so we will take it and move on to the next one."
UNBC controlled much of the player after Harrison's marker, but it was MRU who had the best chance to score later in the half.
In the 40th minute, Cougars midfielder Justin Anderson-Louch was awarded a penalty kick after he was taken down in the box.
However, fifth-year goalkeeper Ty Venhola kept his side in it with an incredible diving save on the PK, preserving the one goal deficit and giving the Timberwolves a boost of energy heading into the second half of play.
Valley was the story, however, particularly in the second half, where he made a number of sensational saves.
The Timberwolves hemmed the Cougars in their own half for most of the 45, and thought they had knotted the game in the 70th minute when Cody Gysbers was robbed off a gorgeous header.
"We created a lot of chances, and we did a good job of getting balls in the box," said UNBC midfielder Francesco Bartolillo. "Credit to their keeper. He made some phenomenal saves, and kept them in it. But our finishing needs to be that much better if we want to get some points."
Late in the game, UNBC's Gysbers, Dan Goodey, and Francesco Bartolillo all had opportunities, but again, Valley was up to the task. He finished the game with seven saves.
"Everyone was putting in work in front of me. All of my defenders made it easy," said Valley after the game.
With the narrow victory, MRU improves to 2-2-1, while the Timberwolves drop their second consecutive matchup to fall to 2-2-3.
"We battled until the very last minute, and up until the very last second, it looked like we were going to equalize," said Bartolillo. "I think we showed we don't give up until that last whistle blows, and I think that will bode well for us as the season goes on."