Pronghorns Communications
Lethbridge – Playing in their first home game of the season, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's soccer team came back from two goals down in the second half but had their home opener spoiled by the CIS fourth ranked Alberta Golden Bears with a 3-2 loss.
The Bears remain undefeated on the season with a perfect with a 5-0-0 record, while the 'Horns have now lost their third game in a row and fall to 1-3-1 on the season.
Tolu Esan, Niko Saler and Ajeej Sarkaria each scored for the Bears, while Stephen Primeau and Chris Rushworth replied for the Pronghorns.
Following an evenly played opening 20 minutes, the Bears took control of the tempo for a six-minute span and made the 'Horns pay.
In the 21st minute, Esan jumped on a misplayed ball in the crease by 'Horns keeper Nolan French and notched his second of the season to open the scoring.
Fifth-year defender Niko Saler doubled the lead just over five minutes later, collecting a clearing attempt and ripping a long range shot from 35 yards over the outstretched arms of French.
The 'Horns regrouped for the remainder of the half but could not solve the steller play in the crease from Bears' keeper Connor James.
James' best of five saves in the opening half came in the 40th minute. Following a slick individual effort by Nico Pasquotti to break into the Bears box, he laid the ball off to a wide open Chris Rushworth but James dove to his right to make a spectacular save off a well-placed shot.
The 'Horns were finally able to break through in the early going of the second half, Pasquotti laid a perfect low cross to a running Primeau in the 49th minute to cut the lead in half. The goal was Primeau's third of the season.
Pasquotti was back at it in the 58th minute. Streaking through the middle of the field, Pasquotti was taken down in the box for a penalty kick. Just when the 'Horns thought they were going to bring the game level, James robbed Rushworth again, this time diving to his left to deflect the penalty kick from harm's way.
Rushworth was finally able to exact some revenge on James in the 73rd minute, jumping a loose ball during a mad goalmouth scramble to bring the 'Horns level at two.
The tie game, however, did not last long as Sarkaria was the beneficiary of a scramble at the other end of the field and found himself with a tap-in for his conference leading sixth goal of the season and the eventual game winning goal.
James finished with eight saves on the day, as the 'Horns held a 16-9 advantage in shot attempts. French made two saves in the loss.
The 'Horns will get back at it on Sunday, hosting the MacEwan Griffins at 2:15, while the Bears travel to Saskatoon to face the Huskies.