EDMONTON – Rookie Alberta forward Habib Assem potted a hat-trick within the first 31 minutes of the game as the Golden Bears picked up a solid 4-1 win over the UNBC Timberwolves Friday evening at Foote Field.
The Bears (2-0-4) move past the MacEwan Griffins into second place in the Prairie Division with the victory whereas the Timberwolves (2-4-1) slide into fifth place in the Pacific.
It was truly a tale of two halves for the squads, as an utterly dominant Bears side in the first half was supplanted by a refocused and dangerous UNBC side after the half.Â
Assem picked up the first of his three in just the second minute, a largely individual effort that found goal past UNBC keeper Daniel Zadravec. It was his third on the season, and he was not finished there.
In the 13th minute, Bears third-year midfielder Rilind Idrizi played a perfect ball from just outside the box to a streaking Assem who made no mistake and potted his second of the game to give Alberta an early 2-0 lead.
The Bears held their momentum well through the first half-hour, and were rewarded in the 31st minute by Assem again, this time making a timely tackle outside of the box and punching a ball past Zadravec in an extraordinary effort to give the Bears a 3-0 lead they would carry into the half.
UNBC would not lay down, however, and largely dominated the second-half of the contest. They outshot the Bears 7-3 in the second, including a 75th minute strike from forward Charlie Stewart on a great cross from midfielder Koby Greaves.
However, Bears forward Everett Orgnero would pot his second of the season off a gorgeous setup from Ibrahim Jetishi in the 83rd minute to set the game in stone at 4-1.
With five goals on the year now, Assem moves into a tie for second place in the Canada West Golden Boot race, behind UNBC's star striker Michael Henman who was out for the game due to accumulated yellow cards.
The Bears are back in action on Sunday hosting the Victoria Vikes (2-3-1), while the Timberwolves head to Lethbridge for an afternoon match with the Pronghorns (1-4-0).
