Lions Fight Hard, Can’t Overcome Early Red Card

 The Ambrose Lions Men's soccer team looked to respond to their 4-0 loss in their last matchup against the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings in their Friday night match before the holiday weekend.

Red Deer opened the scoring in the evening's hotly contested matchup with a goal in the second minute by eventual Kings' player of the game Grant Johnson. Not long after, tempers flared and the crowd booed as the ref issued a controversial red card a mere five minutes into the game to Ambrose captain Nathan Yeung, leaving the team shorthanded for the remainder of the game. The first half remained offensive focused as Lion's keeper Connor Klassen had to show off his skills. Controversy would arise once more as Ambrose would celebrate what they thought was the tying goal, but after conversing with the linesman the ref waved no goal. It wouldn't stop there, as tempers would flare once more when the ref decided to blow the first half to a close in the middle of an offensive opportunity for the Lions.

Despite being down a man, the Lions would continue to play a closely contested game until Grant Johnson added his second of the game in the 59^th minute. Shortly after Johnson completed a natural hattrick with his third unanswered goal in a row in the 62^nd minute. The game continued to be physical and Lions defender Jonathan Oduor received a yellow card to show for it. Numbers continued to prove to much for the Lions to overcome as the Kings would continue to grow after a goal by #10 Ajdin Sarcevic in the 69^th minute. Shortly after, the Kings made a substitution in net, putting in Garrett Thompson. Thompson was immediately put to work but couldn't quite stop Lions striker Aristotle Cruz who scored his first of the season in the 72^nd minute.

The score would remain 4-1 with player of the game honours being awarded to #23 Jake Clubb. The Lions will be back in action at home next week as they take on the Olds College Broncos in another Friday night double header.