Connor Hood, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON - Ajeej Sarkaria's goal off a corner kick in the 81st minute proved to be the game-winner, as the Alberta Golden Bears erased an early 2-0 deficit to beat the visiting UFV Cascades 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Foote Field.
The Cascades scored twice in the first 35 minutes, before Alberta tied the game up before halftime with goals by Matthew Miki and Easton Ongaro. The late winner from Sarkaria gives Alberta their sixth win this season, as they improve their record to a conference-leading 6-0-1. The loss is the second for Fraser Valley, who falls to 3-2-1 in conference play.
Trevor Zanatta scored his first career goal in the 18th minute for UFV, who looked more poised and lethal than the Bears early on. That proved doubly true in the 33rd minute, as Gurmaan Jhaj unleashed a rocket from 45 yards out that beat Bears keeper Connor James in the top corner. The goal was Jhaj's sixth already this season, which is tied for the most in Canada West with UBC's Caleb Clarke.
The Golden Bears found their offensive footing almost immediately following the Jhaj strike, as Miki cut the UFV lead in half just three minutes later. After Ongaro's initial shot was stopped by David Hicks, Miki ripped in the rebound for his second goal of the season.
Ongaro levelled the match a two's in stoppage time of the first half, as he beat Hicks from a tough angle for his fifth goal of the conference season. The Golden Bears had numerous other chances in the final ten minutes of the first half, but Hicks made a handful of outstanding saves.
Hicks' sensational play carried over into the second half, as the Golden Bears continued to pepper the Cascades net with shots. Sarkaria and Ongaro both had a couple chances to give Alberta an early second half lead, but were continually denied by the UFV goalie.
Hicks made another incredible stop in the 80th minute on a penalty kick, robbing Sarkaria from the spot after Golden Bear David Chung was hauled down in the box. Sarkaria redeemed himself on the ensuing corner kick, however, curling in a shot that hit both the crossbar and Hicks, before squeaking in over the UFV goal line.
The Cascades, facing their first deficit of the match, couldn't muster any last minute heroics, falling to Alberta in Edmonton.
The Golden Bears will head west next weekend, as they visit the Thompson Rivers WolfPack and Trinity Western Spartans. The Cascades, meanwhile, will return home next weekend to host the Saskatchewan Huskies.