Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
-With files from Pronghorns Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – The Lethbridge Pronghorns are quickly becoming the nemesis of the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team.
The Prairie Division-leading Griffins settled for their second-straight draw against the winless Pronghorns this season – this time a 1-1 result Saturday during a Canada West women's soccer game played in snowy conditions.
Driving snow, cold temperatures and biting winds provided the backdrop on the afternoon, but despite those challenges, the Griffins largely took the play to the Pronghorns – much like they did during a 0-0 result against them in Edmonton earlier this month.
"Obviously, it's a bit on equalizer for sure because it's tough to get into a rhythm," noted MacEwan head coach Dean Cordeiro. "But no excuses. We found a rhythm and had ample opportunities to break open this game. We had two crossbars and a couple of chances when we were in all alone. We had another goal we scored that got called back. The bounces didn't go our way today, but we played a really good game considering the conditions."
Griffins rookie Sofia DiGiacomo scored the first goal of her Canada West career when she one-timed a Hanna Supina pass past Lethbridge keeper Hanna Quinn in the 39th minute.
DiGiacomo thought she'd scored again in the 60th minute, finding the mesh off a corner kick scramble, but it was called back on a foul.
"It is what it is," said Cordeiro, who didn't agree with the call. "We had many more chances to put the game away."
Unfortunately, near misses would define the afternoon. Sunder West hit a crossbar three minutes into the contest and Meagan Lemoine's shot went off Quinn's hand and the bar late in the game.
Lemoine also nearly scored in the 13th minute but Quinn got her hand on a blast to deflect it over the bar.
With only one on the board and battling against the wind the whole second half, the Griffins became vulnerable to an equalizer, which is what happened in the 88th minute when Jesse Dueck converted off a Colette Mofakham corner kick.
"What we have to do a better job of is managing the game in the late stages," said Cordeiro. "Today, the game was only meant to be 1-nil, then it has to stay 1-nil. We can't leave ourselves vulnerable for the opponent to get level. Credit Lethbridge. They hung around and found the tying goal late in the game."
Quinn made 12 saves for the Pronghorns, while Emily Burns stopped six for the Griffins – her best a diving save in the 32nd minute off Tory Clements.
MacEwan (4-1-2) next heads to Calgary for a Sunday meeting against the Mount Royal University Cougars (12 p.m.), while Lethbridge (0-4-3) hosts Alberta on the same day.
