Connor Hood - Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON - University of Alberta Golden Bears keeper Connor James set the new Canada West career conference shutout record on Sunday afternoon, as his Bears cruised past the MacEwan Griffins 5-0 at Foote Field.
The shutout was the 22nd of his career, and his seventh of 2017. Sophomore Ajeej Sarkaria scored twice in front of James, while Easton Ongaro, Ajay Khabra, and Daniel Barker-Rothschild also scored for Alberta on Sunday. With the win, the Golden Bears completed the sweep of MacEwan in their home-and-home series this weekend, improving to a division-leading 9-1-2 this season. The Griffins, who were outscored 10-1 by Alberta, fall to 2-9-1.
The Golden Bears, ranked second in the U SPORTS Top Ten, raced out to an early three goal lead on Sunday, taking just 17 minutes to take a stranglehold on MacEwan. Sarkaria scored his seventh of the season just seven minutes in, slotting an easy shot into the Griffins net after his initial shot was blocked.
Ongaro doubled the lead in the 14th minute, taking a pass in tight from Sarkaria, and perfectly sneaking a shot past Dory Elliott for his fourth of the season. The offensive onslaught didn't end there, as Khabra gave Alberta a 3-0 lead just three minutes later. Off a nice feed from Nikko Cuglietta, Khabra raced in on a partial break, beating Elliott short-side.
MacEwan, fighting for their playoff lives, were unable to muster much offence on Sunday, managing just two shots on goal, one in each half. Alberta, who absolutely dominated ball possession in the win, coupled with 23 shots, added their fourth goal before the end of the first half. This time it was Sarkaria who found himself of a breakaway on Elliott, calmly chipping a shot over Eliott for his team-leading eighth goal of 2017.
Barker-Rothschild completed the impressive showing for Alberta in the 74th minute, scoring his third of the season off a scramble in the MacEwan crease.
Both the Bears and Griffins will host the Mount Royal Cougars and Calgary Dinos next weekend, in both clubs final conference games of 2017.