EDMONTON - A sterling performance by Calgary goalkeeper
Jake Ruschkowski lasted more than 88 minutes, but the University of Calgary Dinos fell 1-0 to the Alberta Golden Bears on Easton Ongaro's 88th-minute goal Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.
Alberta controlled a majority of the play and scoring chances, but needed a goal in the final three minutes for a second-consecutive game to remain undefeated in conference play. The Bears stay atop the Prairie division with a 4-0-0 record, while Calgary drops to 1-2-0 this season.
Alberta outshot Calgary 19-9, including 12 shots from Ongaro and Ajeej Sarkaria, who assisted on Ongaro's goal with his conference-leading sixth point this season. Alberta also finished the match with 15 corner kicks, compared to just two for Calgary, as they held spent a majority of the match inside Calgary's half.
Bears keeper Connor James made a lone save to record his second clean sheet of the season.
It was the Dinos, however, who opened the match with a couple early chances, highlighted by a
Mark Bohdan shot from distance which ripped off the Alberta crossbar.
Calgary 'keeper Ruschkowski was sensational for the Dinos throughout the match, finishing with eight saves, including a trio of highlight reel stops in the first half. Ruschkowski robbed Ongaro on a pair of chances from inside the box, while also making a sprawling save off a rebound in the 36th minute to keep the game level at 0-0.
Ongaro and Sarkaria created more offence for Alberta to begin the second half, but were stuffed out by the Calgary back-line and Ruschkowski. Ongaro finally broke the deadlock late, beating the sophomore Dino keeper with a low screamer from inside the Calgary box for the game-winner.
The No. 8 ranked Golden Bears will remain at home tomorrow, as they face the Mount Royal Cougars at Foote Field, with kick-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Calgary, meanwhile, will head across the river to face off against the MacEwan Griffins at Clarke Stadium in Edmonton.
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