Matt Gutsch - Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON – The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns handed the CIS top ranked Alberta Golden Bears their first loss of the season, a 1-0 victory, at Foote Field on Saturday evening.
The 'Horns got the only goal of the game in the 24th minute, and then managed to shut down the second most prolific offence in the conference to preserve the win. Lethbridge improves to 6-6-1 on the season by virtue of their fourth consecutive win in conference play. They're also now just one point out of a playoff position, trailing fourth place Saskatchewan who has 20 points.
Alberta, meanwhile, had clinched a playoff spot a week ago, but was looking to lock down first place overall in the Prairie Division. The Bears also see their record drop to 12-1-2, and this was just their second game on the season in which they were shutout.
Lethbridge leading scorer Chris Rushworth added to his totals in the 24th minute when he struck a beautiful free-kick into the top right corner of the Alberta goal, beyond the grasp of Bears 'keeper Connor James, for 1-0 goal. It was Rushworth's sixth goal of the season and eighth point. The fifth-year 'Horn is 10th in Canada West points.
The Golden Bears vaunted attack, having potted 39 goals to date, was stymied time and time again by the Lethbridge defence. The Pronghorns took advantage of the narrower turf field to bottleneck Alberta's offence. Ajeej Sarkaria, owner of a Canada West record 19 goals this season, was held in check all game long as any time he had the ball at least two Pronghorns immediately converged on him.
Although Alberta was able to hold possession for a majority of the second half, they generated few very chances on Lethbridge goalie Nolan French, and the 'Horns were able to see the victory come to fruition.
Lethbridge will continue their assault on a playoff position this Sunday when they take on the MacEwan Griffins in Edmonton. Alberta will look to lock down first on Sunday when they host the Saskatchewan Huskies at Foote Field.