Box Score The UNBC Timberwolves suffered another heartbreaking result on Sunday afternoon, conceding in the final moments of regulation in a 1-0 loss to the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Bronson Schlichter scored the lone goal of the match in the 90th minute, giving Lethbridge (4-2-1) all three points and leaving UNBC (0-4-4) empty-handed despite another strong performance.
Callum Cuthbert made four saves in the UNBC goal, while
Kosta Adzic turned in a notable performance in the midfield and was named the Mr. Mike's Player of the Game.
Looking to spark the Timberwolves attack, head coach Steve Simonson made four changes to his starting lineup, inserting
Mehdi Bounaaja,
Trevor Scott,
Charlie Beauvais and
Kaiden Young. The quartet immediately provided a positive presence as UNBC generated several promising opportunities in the opening half.
The T-Wolves came closest to breaking the deadlock when Beauvais connected with a header in the 19th minute, but Lethbridge goalkeeper Tegan Romaine made the save. Romaine was called upon again in the final minute of the half, denying another UNBC header, this time from Young.
At the other end, Cuthbert made his first stop of the afternoon in the fourth minute, turning aside a shot from Xander McIntyre. It proved to be Lethbridge's lone shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, with the Pronghorns sending four additional attempts wide.
The second half saw the game open up considerably.
Lethbridge nearly broke through in the 67th minute when Jose Castaneda fired a shot from the right side of the box that beat Cuthbert but struck the post.
Moments later, the Pronghorns threatened again off a set piece, with Alessio Gusciglio rising to connect on a header. Cuthbert made a tremendous diving stop to his left, keeping the match scoreless.
UNBC also received strong contributions from a pair of rookies in the second half, with
Ryder Rusman and Nick Couchman providing valuable minutes off the bench. Rusman was particularly dangerous late, using his combination of speed, strength and finesse to create problems for the Lethbridge defence.
But just as it appeared the Timberwolves were destined to earn another hard-fought point on the road, heartbreak struck.
A turnover in the UNBC defensive third in the 90th minute sparked a dangerous Lethbridge sequence along the right wing. Gusciglio delivered a perfectly weighted ball into the box, where Schlichter got just enough of a touch to redirect it across the goal line and give the Pronghorns the 1-0 victory.
The result marks another frustrating finish for the Timberwolves, who once again found themselves in a match that felt within their grasp.
UNBC will now return home for a pair of Alberta opponents next weekend.
The Timberwolves will host the University of Alberta at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Masich Place Stadium as part of the annual SD 57 School Game, before welcoming Mount Royal University to Prince George for a 2:30 p.m. Sunday showdown.
