Broncos withstand Lions' ferocious comeback bid
A pair of quick goals brought Ambrose back into the game late, but Mario Fabian Gromenida completed his hat trick in the dying minutes to give Olds three valuable points.
Olds College Sports Information
September 22, 2018
OLDS, Alta. - The Ambrose University made a game of it late, but the Olds College Broncos slammed the door shut in the final minutes of a 4-2 victory at Richardson Pioneer Field on Saturday.
Mario Fabian Gromenida, the reigning ACAC Male Athlete of the Week, scored a hat trick to pace the Broncos (2-2-1). Abu Bangura rounded out the Olds College scoring, while Ryan Murphy earned his first ACAC victory with a four-save performance.
Matthew Wideman and Fikru Huska replied for the Lions (0-3-1), while Jared Zimmer was busy, turning aside nine Bronco opportunities.
The Broncos opened the scoring in the 24th minute, as Bangura expertly sidestepped a sprawling Zimmer before finding the open net to put Olds up one.
Olds struck again late in the first half following some fancy footwork from Gromenida just outside the 18-yard box, turning a defender around before curling one past Zimmer to give the Broncos a two-goal lead heading into halftime.
Gromenida wasn't finished there, striking again in the 69th minute off a pass from Ushindi Mutabazi to give the Broncos a three-goal cushion.
However, Ambrose immediately struck back, as Wideman headed home a bouncing ball in the six-yard box in the 71st minute to trim the deficit. The Lions would strike again three minutes later, as Huska converted a penalty kick after a Bronco was whistled for a handball in the box.
However, the Broncos found an insurance marker late, as Gromenida completed the hat trick in the 87th minute, heading home a Jacob McLarney corner kick to ice the match for Olds.
Defender Nicolas Depot was named The Pit Player of the Game for the Broncos, while Wideman earned the award for Ambrose.
The Broncos hit the road for the first time tomorrow, as they face the SAIT Trojans in Calgary at 2 p.m., while Ambrose will open the home side of its schedule next Friday against the Red Deer College Kings at 6 p.m.