Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
Lethbridge – Lethbridge Pronghorn keeper Nolan French stopped a penalty kick and senior midfielder Dominique Point du Jour scored on a penalty kick of his own to lead the Pronghorns to a 1-0 win over the UNBC Timberwolves.
The win snapped a three game losing streak for the Pronghorns and improved their record to 2-6-2 on the season. With the loss the Timberwolves drop to 3-4-3 on the season.
The UNBC Timberwolves had the first dangerous chance to open the scoring. Francesco Bartolillo crossed the ball to a wide open Tofa Fakunle, but his shot sailed high over the bar.
In response, the Pronghorns had two good looks at goal but Hayes Wittrock's header was easily saved by Timberwolves keeper Tyrone Venhola and Stephen Primeau's shot just curled wide of the net.
UNBC had two other good chances in a relatively even played half , but Brett Bobier just missed the far post on a in close chance and Primeau saved what looked like a sure goal in the final minute. Primeau was in a perfect spot on the goal line to block Gordon Hall's blast from the top of the penalty area.
Timberwolves held a 10-6 shot advantage at the break but both 'Horns keeper Nolan French and UNBC's Venhola were credited with three saves. UNBC also had five corners to the Pronghorns one.
In the 60th minute, 'Horns keeper Nolan French charged off his line and took down Fakunle, setting up the penalty kick, but French dove the right direction and redeemed himself with a great diving save.
The save by French seemed to spark the Pronghorns offensive attack. Venhola made two quality saves, first, a great diving save off of Primeau and then corralled a header from Jaden Veluw.
A foul in the Timberwolves box lead to penalty for the Pronghorns and while Venhola dove to the correct side, Dominique Point du Jour was able to beat Venhola to the low left corner.
Continuing with offensive pressure by the Pronghorns, Venhola made another good save point blank off Jitse van den Hadlekamp.
Including the penalty, French finished the match with 8 saves to earn his first clean sheet of the season. Venhola was credited with nine saves in the loss.
The Pronghorns will host their final home games of the 2017 season, hosting the defending U Sports Champion Alberta Golden Bears Friday at 2:00pm and the MacEwan Griffins Sunday afternoon at 2:15pm. For the Timberwolves they will be in action next Friday and Saturday, hosting the Pacific Division leading UBC Thunderbirds.