The University of the Fraser Valley men's soccer team took care of business on the road, topping the Lethbridge Pronghorns 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Nawaf Binsaleh and
Parman Minhas scored the Cascades' goals, and
Ethan Duggan registered three saves for his second straight shutout as the UFV side got back to the .500 mark at 3-3-3 in Canada West play, good for fifth in the Pacific Division. The Pronghorns, at 0-6-2, are still in search of their first win of the campaign.
"I thought it was a really professional performance from us today," Cascades head coach
Tom Lowndes said. "We did the things we need to do – we were clinical on set pieces, and we took the sting out of the game. Really happy with the effort and how the boys dug in in a tough place to play."
The Pronghorns had a great chance in the 30th minute as Landon Veluw got on the end of Danilo Morales's corner, but he hit the crossbar.
Fifth-year centre back Binsaleh opened the scoring in the 41st minute, rising at the top of the six-yard box to meet
Brady Weir's corner and heading it inside the far post.
Duggan's best work came in the 57th minute, as he dove to his right to get a hand on Kyle Szymanski's line-drive through a maze of bodies. It was a truly spectacular stop, and it loomed large with the Cascades preserving a one-goal lead.
"You need your keeper to make saves in moments like that, up 1-0, and he came up with a big save which was really pleasing," Lowndes noted.
The Cascades got the insurance marker in the 81st.
Atle Koellmel got the play started, launching one of his patented long throws into the box where it eventually found its way to Minhas with his back to goal. He flicked it over his head with his right foot, and it arced over Lethbridge keeper Matthew Vanderveen. A Pronghorns defender tried clearing the ball off the line, but only succeeded in heading it into the top of the net.
The Cascades are on the road again next week, facing the UBC Okanagan Heat on Saturday (3 p.m.) and the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Sunday (2 p.m.).
CORNER KICKS: Game MVPs were UFV's Duggan and Lethbridge midfielder James Braid . . .
Kadir Yagci, a first-year defender from Bundle, Germany, made his Cascades debut, coming on in the 89th minute.
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