EDMONTON - The University of Alberta Golden Bears soccer team captured Canada West bronze over the Calgary Dinos, thanks a 3-2 decision during the medal round of the Canada West championship tournament, Sunday afternoon on the turf at Foote Field in Edmonton.
BOX SCORE
A trio of Golden Bear all-stars did the damage on Sunday, as first team all-star, and conference leading scorer, Sam Lam scored, as did Canada West rookie of the year Marcus Johnstone, and second team all-star Brett Colvin.
The Dinos received tallies from a pair of conference all-stars as well, as second team members
Izak Lawrence and
Dustin Ruddell scored for Calgary.
In what amounted to a nothing game for both teams, in terms of playoff significance, the Alberta rivals put on a pretty entertaining first half. The Golden Bears had already clinched a berth into the CIS championship, Nov. 11-14 at the University of Toronto, by virtue of finishing first in conference play, while the Dinos knew their season was over after Sunday.
With a combined six players in their fifth and final year of CIS eligibility on the pitch on Sunday, including Alberta back-up goalie Steven Reid, who earned the start in his final home game, and defender Harman Braich, who sat out as a precaution, the teams played for nothing more than pride, and still combined to score the same amount of goals in 45 minutes, as the two semi final games produced in 90+ minutes on Saturday.
Just over five minutes into the contest, Colvin, who is two regular season goals away from becoming Alberta's all-time career leading scorer, broke the ice, working along the left side of the field, the Calgary native cut to the net and slid the ball underneath veteran Dinos' keeper, and perennial conference all-star, JP Crescenzi, for the 1-0 lead. Jonah Feil drew the lone assist.
Nine minutes later the Golden Bears doubled their lead when Lam beat Crescenzi, with Ignacy Broda picking up the helper.
But, before the half-time whistle, the Dinos drew themselves back into the contest when Lawrence headed a perfect cross from
Devin Delany into the Alberta goal at the 41 minute mark.
Johnstone, who scored eight goals and 11 points as a freshman this season, restored Alberta's two-goal lead at the 72 minute mark, when Milan Timotijevic picked him out perfectly inside the Calgary 18-yard box, leaving the big striker free to slot it home for the 3-1 advantage.
Just over three minutes later, however, Calgary struck back to within one goal as Ruddell curled a free-kick attempt around Reid's fingers for the 3-2 finish.
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