Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorns Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – Looking to solidify a second place finish in the Prairie Division, the Calgary Dinos rallied from a one goal deficit to hand the Lethbridge Pronghorns a 2-1 loss in Canada West men's soccer action.
The win moves the Dinos record to 6-6-1 and move two wins clear of the Saskatchewan Huskies and Mount Royal Cougars. Both the Cougars and Huskies have two games remaining and will face each other tomorrow.
With the loss the Pronghorns record falls to 0-10-3.
Corey Frecka opened the scoring the Pronghorns, while Ryan Doering and Mark Bohdan replied for the Dinos. Bohdan also picked up an assist Doering's goal.
Early in in the opening half, the Dinos had the first quality chance. Off a set piece Mark Bohdan got on the free kick with a header labeled for the corner, however Pronghorn keeper Matt Vandervoort dove to his left to make a spectacular save.
The Pronghorns had a great chance of their own before the game was 20 minutes old. Corey Frecka was able to run down a ball in the middle of the field, getting a step on a Dinos defender but Dinos keeper Jake Ruschkowski made a diving save to keep the game scoreless.
In the 35th minute, the Dinos broke away on an odd man rush and Jared Fillo had a look from just inside the pronghorn penalty area but again Vandervoort was able to get his hands on the shot and deflect it into touch.
At the half, the Dinos had eight shot attempts to the Pronghorns four but the Pronghorns had three shots on goal, while the Dinos registered two. The Dinos were not able to capitalize on nine first half corner kicks. The Pronghorns had two attempts from the corner flag in the first 45 minutes.
In the early moments of the second half, the Pronghorns opened the scoring. Corey Frecka chested down a Kyle Angerilli cross and in all in one motion volleyed a strike to bottom left corner. The goal was his first of the season.
Off a miscue by Pronghorn defender, #17 pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and had a clean look at goal but Vandervoort challenged off his line and was able close his legs to make the save.
With a set piece deep into the Pronghorns end. Bohdan swung the ball into the box, where Ryan Doering was able the head the free kick past Vandervoort and in the right corner, for his second of the season.
Dinos pushed forward looking for a go ahead go but Vandervoort, making his first start of the season made two saves in tight. Vandervoort turned away Derek Brust and then recovered to stop Bohdan on the rebound.
However, Bohdan couldn't be kept of the scoresheet. In the 82nd minute, Bohdan hit a strike from just outside the Pronghorns penalty area that found the far low corner.
In the dying minutes, the Pronghorns nearly tied the game off a set piece. Ellis Davies placed a ball into the Dinos box, which was flicked on to a waiting Sean Gaiesky but his shot hit the outside of the net.
The Dinos finished the night with 17 shot attempts to the Pronghorns 14. Dinos' keeper Jake Ruschkowski finished the game with seven saves, while Vandervoort made six saves before leaving with an injury with less than 10 minutes to play.
The Pronghorns will wrap up their 2018 Canada West season Sunday afternoon with a match-up with the Mount Royal Cougars, kick-off is slated for 2:15. The Dinos will travel to Saskatoon for their final game before the post-season.
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