EDMONTON – Coming into the game tied for the all-time lead in team conference scoring, senior striker Marcus Johnstone netted a hat trick for the University of Alberta Golden Bears, paving the way to a 6-1 win over the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, Sunday afternoon at Foote Field.
The Edmonton native now has 29 goals in 53 conference games in Evergreen and Gold colours, besting Brett Colvin (2007-11) who had 26 goals in 60. Senior forward Jermele Campbell added a goal and an assist in Sunday's match, sophomore midfielder Tim Hickson and rookie forward Tyler Graham notching singles. Fourth-year midfielder CJ Gilroy also contributed two helpers.
Fifth-year midfielder Scott Ansell scored the lone goal for the visitors.
For the second-straight game, Alberta struck quickly when Campbell, just inside the left corner of the 18-yard box, curled the ball to the far side in the second minute of play.
Johnstone grabbed sole possession of the Alberta record in the 10th minute, making no mistake on a perfectly-timed connection on a Gilroy cross inside the Winnipeg crease.
Yet a Joshua Weinberger takedown gave Ansell a chance to reply in the 39th minute on a penalty kick for the Wesmen, freshman 'keeper Connor James guessing wrong and diving right while Ansell drove it low and down the middle to cut the lead to 2-1.
Five minutes into the second half, Johnstone answered back with a slicing top-shelf finish on a Campbell cross and completed the hat trick in the 72nd minute when he potted the juicy rebound of a Gilroy free kick.
Senior forward Ross Pinhammer, who earned three assists but no goals in Saturday's game against the Bears, had a glorious chance in the 79th minute, but senior defender Brendan Wald came up with a monster block in the penalty area, Alberta responding with a Hickson free kick just beyond the Winnipeg 18-yard box that curled beautifully to the left and inside the near post for a 5-1 lead.
Graham netted his first goal as a Golden Bear late in the game, driving down the left side of the pitch and putting ball low to the far side in the 88th minute.
Heading out on the road next weekend, Alberta will head south to play against the Calgary Dinos, while Winnipeg returns home to host the Lethbridge Pronghorns.