Matt Gutsch, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics

EDMONTON – The University of Alberta Golden Bears soccer team improved to 2-0-0 on the season courtesy a narrow 1-0 win over the visiting Mount Royal Cougars on Thursday evening at Foote Field.

Alberta earned the victory thanks to a strong defensive performance and through the efforts of a pair of veterans in Niko Saler and Ajay Khabra. The pair connected for the only goal of the game in the fifth minute of play when Saler curled a perfect free kick to the back post where Khabra managed to tip the cross over the goal line for the eventual game winner.

The lone goal and clean sheet result was Alberta's second 1-0 win of the early 2016-17 season as the Bears defeated the University of Calgary Dinos 1-0 on Wednesday night as well.

The Cougars were also coming off a Wednesday night win as the night before they defeated the MacEwan Griffins 2-1 in dramatic fashion. Mount Royal clinched the season opening win in injury time when goalie Kamil Zielinski pumped a free-kick from half into the Griffins' 18-yard box where veteran defenceman Tyrin Hutchings headed past the MacEwan goalie for the 2-1 goal in the 90+ minute.

Following Khabra's effort, however, the Golden Bears were able to play a patient possession game against MRU, holding the ball and looking for opportunities, rather than having to force the attack. Although the Bears did generate a few more scoring opportunities, notably Bruno Zebie's hard shot from 20 yard out that rattled off the crossbar late in the second half, Alberta seemed content to hold on to the 1-0 advantage. Alberta's back line of Janko Vong, Noah Cunningham, both rookies, and Saler and Tim Hickson, held firm against the Mount Royal attack, consisting mostly of 2015 Canada West assist leader Cody Cook.

And the few times MRU did slip through the Alberta defence, third-year goalkeeper Connor James was alert and present to snuff out any potential fires. Cook and the Cougars did generate a few chances, but nothing that really tested James.

Mount Royal, a Canada West playoff team last season, did put eight shots on Alberta's goal, as did the Golden Bears, the difference coming off a set piece and off the boot of Saler, who was the Canada West assist leader last season.

The win also moves the U of A to 2-0 and a leadership position in the Alberta Cup standings as well.

The Cougars will be action again on August 31 when they host the Lethbridge Pronghorns, while the Golden Bears will travel to Winnipeg for a two-game set against the Wesmen on September 3-4.