Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – With their playoff lives hanging in the balance, the Lethbridge Pronghorns had to settle for a single point, allowing a goal in the final two minutes and finishing with a 2-2 draw with the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The tie moves the Pronghorns to 0-8-3 and remain three wins behind the Huskies and MacEwan Griffins for the final playoff spot in the Prairie Division. The Huskies records now sits at 3-6-2 and it tied with the Griffins for the final playoff spot in the division.
Stephen Primeau scored both goals for the Pronghorns, while Nikolas Baikas s and Kwame Opoku replied for the Huskies.
Only four minutes into the contest, Bryce Marinus feed the ball to the top of the 18-yard box, where Nikolas Baikas one-timed a shot to the bottom corner for his second goal of the season.
The Pronghorns had their first dangerous chance in the 24th after Huskies goalie, Greg Buckley, spilled the ball off a Pronghorn cross, creating a chance for a header by Pronghorn Corey Frecka but is cleared off the line by Huskies defenseman, Jacob Powell.
A short time later, Pronghorn captain Sean Gaiesky had a good look but, Buckley deflected the shot out for a Horns corner kick.
In 33rd minute Ellis Davies crossed the ball back into the Huskies penalty area and Stephen Primeau ran on to the ball, half volleying a strike past Huskies goal keeper Greg Buckley to tie the game at one.
At the half, the Huskies held a six to four advantage in shot attempts but the Pronghorns had three shots on goal compared to the Huskies two.
In the 60th minute, the Huskies nearly regained their lead. Marinus crossed a ball to the far side of the Pronghorns penalty area, on a transition break, to a wide open Marcello Gonzalez but his one touch sailed wide.
Huskies went on the offensive following the chance in the 60th minute but neither Mohamed Omar nor Gabriel Buatois were able to find the net on their opportunities within 15-yards of the Pronghorns net.
In the 79th minute, the Pronghorns were awarded a penalty kick and senior forward Stephen Primeau stepped up and slotted home his second goal of the day and third of the season.
Two minutes shy of full time, Huskies Jakub Rogowski cut the ball back into the Pronghorns box to a waiting Kwame Opoku who made no mistake to tie the score at three. The goal was Opoku's first goal of the season.
Stats at the final whistle the Huskies held a 14 to 7 advantage in shot attempts, while the Pronghorns had six corner kicks compared to the Huskies three.
The Pronghorns and Huskies will square off again tomorrow afternoon to conclude the weekend set, kick-off is scheduled for 2:15. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.
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Photo by: MPP Photography