After opening the Canada West conference schedule last weekend on the road, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s soccer team (0-1-1) returns home to host a pair of games this week.
The Horns kick off this week’s action hosting provincial rival University of Calgary Dinos (1-0-1) Thursday night (6 p.m.), before welcoming the newest member of the Canada West, McEwan University, to the conference Saturday afternoon (12 p.m.).
Following a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary to open the 2014 season, the Horns played an exceptional defensive game and held the defending Canada West Champion University of Alberta Pandas to a scoreless draw last Sunday in Edmonton.
Sophomore goalkeeper Myriah Marino had a great start to the season making 17 saves in the two games last weekend, including nine saves on Sunday versus the Pandas to earn her first Canada West shutout.
For the Dinos, a team that has a distinctly new look this season, the 2014 campaign started on the right foot. With 15 new faces this season, the Dinos opened with an impressive 2-0 win over the Pandas Saturday, before returning to Calgary and playing the MRU Cougars to a scoreless draw.
Saturday afternoon will mark a historic day for the McEwan University Griffins women’s soccer team, as they compete in their first ever Canada West regular season game.
Fresh off a national championship title in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, the Griffins return 16 players from that championship team but will need to elevate their play and adjust quickly to the level of Canada West play if they are to have a successful first campaign.
Pronghorn men hit the road
Coming off a bye during the opening weekend of the Canada West conference schedule, the Pronghorns men’s soccer team finally competes in its first conference action, traveling to Winnipeg to face the University of Winnipeg Wesmen in a pair of games.
The 2014 version of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorn men’s soccer team will showcase a strong mix of experience and youth with 10 true freshmen on the roster but will be led by a strong nucleus of veterans.
This group will look to build off a successful summer club season as a handful of the current Pronghorns joined forces with Horns alumni and other local soccer players to earn the Lethbridge Football Club (LFC) its first Alberta Major Soccer League (AMSL) regular season title.
Fifth-year defenders Conner Brady and Scott Slomp will be tasked with leading the squad and bringing the youth up to speed in quick fashion.
One area of strength for the Horns this season should be in the middle of the field with an exceptional collection of third-year athletes in Dom Rigaux, Gui Costa and Dom Point du Jour and the addition of Allan Siwella. After transferring from Medicine Hat College last year, Siwella missed the entire 2014 season due to an injury but has regained his Canadian College All-Canadian form this summer with LFC.
Returning incumbent keeper Tyler Boast will bring stability to the last line of defence in his fourth year of eligibility. Boast led the conference in saves last season with 51 and led Canada West keepers in shutouts in 2013.
Incoming freshmen include local products Kendell Weins, Riley Flint, Stephen Primeau and Audulio Arraga. They are joined by defenders Blake Pipke, Cormac Southam and Ethan Perkins as well as midfielders Sean Gaiskey and Jared Ursulan. All are expected to push for playing time.
For the Wesmen, despite high expectations heading into the season, the 2014 season did not get off to the start they were looking for, losing both games last weekend in Edmonton to the Alberta Golden Bears, 6-3 and 6-1.
The Horns return home next weekend to host the newest Canada West school, MacEwan University Griffins, at the U of L Community Stadium.