Griffins can't find finishing touch in 1-0 loss to Thompson Rivers
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 |
Team Stats
Thompson Rivers
| Game Statistics | Thompson Rivers | MacEwan University |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 10 (2) | 11 (0) |
| Saves | 0 | 1 |
| Fouls | 16 | 15 |
| Corner Kicks | 7 | 8 |
| Offsides | 1 | 2 |
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – While they had chances in the attacking phase with crosses coming in, free kicks near the area and 11 total shots, the Griffins just couldn't find the finishing touch in a disheartening 1-0 loss to the similarly winless Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Saturday.
It feels like a golden opportunity wasted against a team very much in their wheelhouse as the Griffins drop to 0-6-2, while TRU improves to 1-7-1.
"I felt we were flat the whole game," said MacEwan head coach Adam Loga. "It was an opportunity for us to spark something and there just wasn't a lot of energy.
"We're still struggling to find a way to get all 11 on the field to play to a standard. It's been a little inconsistent the whole season. We can't seem to piece together 11 players that are playing at a level (necessary for success)."
MacEwan had more of the possession early in the contest and were leading 5-2 on shots at the half, but neither squad put one on target in the first 45.
In the end, the Griffins didn't register a single shot on goal in the game, although they did outshoot TRU 11-10 in overall attempts.
The WolfPack weren't exactly hitting the target either with just two shots on goal in the game, but they only needed one of those to find paydirt.
They got just that in the 49th minute when Abdel Coulibaly timed his run up the right side perfectly to zoom past a Griffins defender - setting up an odd-man rush - and fed Ben Finley for a tap-in on the far side.
The goal came not long after perhaps MacEwan's best chance of the game when Abhiroop Sandhu's curling laser off a rebound narrowly bent over the bar in the 46th.
MacEwan had a couple late dangerous free kicks, but Ali Yildiz's cross attempt from just right of the box was repelled and then in extra time, his blast from 30 yards out went just wide of the right post.
The Griffins will face another winless team on Sunday when the 0-6-1 UBC Okanagan Heat – who lost 5-0 to Alberta across town on Saturday – visit (12 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV).
"It's just another opportunity to try and get the first win," said Loga. "I think it's about pride for the guys now. They're set up for success. It's just about getting the group together to play and just have no passengers."
