EDMONTON - In a clash of two of the conference's top programs, a late second half goal by Alberta saw the Bears and Mount Royal Cougars earn a 1-1 draw, Sunday afternoon at Foote Field. 

In an evenly played game between the teams ranked second and third in the pre-season coaches poll, the provincial rivals combined for 26 shots, which saw MRU edge Alberta 7-4 in shots on target. David Schaefer scored Mount Royal's lone marker in  the 14th minute, with Bears rookie Habib Assem scoring his second goal in as many matches in the 85th. 

Mount Royal came out the strong side on Sunday, controlling the ball early on. Schaefer, who scored three set piece goals in 2021, added to his total on Sunday afternoon. Taking a free kick from just outside the Alberta box, Schaefer laced a beautiful left-footed strike over the Bears wall, which sailed past Bears keeper Liam Collens. 

While MRU outshot the Bears by just one in the first half (7-6), none of the Bears shots found their target. By comparison, four of the Cougars shots did, forcing Collens to be sharp to keep the game within reach. 

The host side started to find their legs in the second, firing eight shots towards Cougars goalkeeper Sterling Kerr. 

A pair of second half substitutions by Alberta seemed to give them an added boost, including inserting veteran midfielder David Chung. Chung would spark the Bears game-tying tally, as his first shot from in tight was blocked, but the rebound found Assem, who beat Kerr from close. 

It marked the second straight game in which Assem scored a late second half goal to salvage a 1-1 tie for Alberta, also doing so in their 1-1 draw against Calgary on Saturday. 

The 0-0-2 Golden Bears will visit Saskatchewan and Lethbridge next weekend, while the 1-0-1 Cougars will host Calgary on Saturday afternoon.