Box Score CALGARY – The Cougars are off to a hot start.

Mount Royal defeated the MacEwan University Griffins 3-1 on Sunday at Mount Royal Field Two for their second win in as many days.

The Griffins were looking to bounce back after a 4-1 loss to the University of Calgary Dinos, while the Cougars were keen to continue their high-level play they exhibited on Saturday in a 3-1 win over the Alberta Golden Bears.

MRU had an early chance to find the net when rookie leftback Joseph Green volleyed a shot from a long cross. MacEwan keeper Oleksandr Popravka was able to stop the attempt.

In the 32nd minute, Cougars veteran Jonathan Walter nearly scored with a shot from the box but was denied by Popravka once again. 

After a couple chances for Mount Royal and minimal pressure from MacEwan the score remained 0-0 at the half.

Coming out of the break, the Griffins wasted no time breaking the deadlock. Popravka sent a booming kick from MacEwan's own side of half to propel fourth-year midfielder Ali Yildiz who shot the ball past MRU goalkeeper Sjard Strauss. 

The Cougars were stunned to be down 1-0 on their home field.

In the 58th minute, Mount Royal got their equalizer. Rookie forward Chanan Chanda found space in behind the Griffins defender and drove a low kick to even the score at one. The marker was Chanda's first career goal with the Cougars.

"As soon as you get that first goal, momentum shifts," said Chanda. "Even after [MacEwan] got that first goal we still managed to keep up with them."

Just a few minutes later, the Cougars took the lead for the first time. Fresh off his Man of the Match performance on Saturday, Cougars' striker Finn Marshall found the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Mount Royal added some insurance with another goal in the 72nd minute. A wild scramble in front led to the ball falling to the feet of Chanda for his second goal of the game.

Named player of the game, Chanda credited the game as an all around team win.

"Our team is unbelievable. Starting from the centreback winning every first ball. The runs forward. Some of our wingers can run forever! It's amazing."

Next weekend, Mount Royal will kick off a five-match road trip by visiting the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday and then on Sunday, they'll go head-to-head with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns in southern Alberta. Catch both matches live on Canada West TV.