EDMONTON – Leave it up to the lone Edmontonian on the UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer roster to provide the heroic moment for the visitors in their 2-1 victory over the MacEwan Griffins on the most iconic soccer stage in the city of #YEG.

Third-year Jackson Farmer got his melon on an inspired 87th minute sideline-to-goal-line throw-in by Riley Pang, touching it over keeper Seth Johnstone for the game-winner at Commonwealth Stadium – the regular home of the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos.

"I'm happy for Jackson – a hometown boy playing back here in Edmonton and he gets a timely goal," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher. "I'm thrilled for him to get the winner here."

It was a deserved result for UBC, which dominated possession in the contest, especially in the first half, outshooting the Griffins 20-7 (10-2 in shots on goal).

But you can't blame the Griffins for having a gut-wrenching bout of disappointment. They led 1-0, had other golden opportunities to score two or three times in the game, and were just minutes away from at least salvaging a draw.
 

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"I think again it comes down to a little bit of maturity and just kind of battling to the final whistle," said MacEwan head coach Adam Loga, who is seeing déjà vu – able to attribute three losses and one of their ties this year to costly late goals.

"It's tough. You've got to think some breaks are going to come our way sooner or later because we've been pretty resilient with guys suspended, guys injured, guys sick all week and we still came out and played No. 6 in the nation to a draw until the 87th.

"Again, it's not a lack of belief. We just have to keep it positive and keep fighting because we're obviously right there."

The Thunderbirds jumped all over the Griffins early, but just couldn't find the twine. Manraj Bains hit crossbar in the 16th minute before Thomas Gardner's elite footwork led to a point-blank chance in the 17th, but he didn't get all of the shot and Johnstone gobbled it up.

For as strong as UBC was in the attacking third, they were vulnerable to the counter-attack all afternoon, which is where MacEwan made hay in the 24th minute. Michael Enes worked for some open space at the top of the box and delivered a left-footed strike bar-down past diving Thunderbirds 'keeper Jason Roberts.

As UBC pressed for the equalizer, Zibusiso Moyo made two defensive saves and Zach Rochat had one in the span of seven minutes before Johnstone came up with two massive saves on Logan Chung and Farmer less than a minute apart at the end of the half.
 

UBC just kept coming when the game resumed, however, and Victory Shumbusho struck in the 47th, booting home a ball out of a corner kick scramble in the box.

MacEwan had two big chances to regain the lead, but Rakan Yassin, in alone, sent the ball bounding just wide of the right post, and Everett Orgnero's shot from five feet out in the 66th was blocked by sliding midfielder Mitch Piraux.

Just when the game seemed destined to end in a draw, Farmer played hero.

"I'm happy they persevered and found a way there at the end, but unfortunately it's been a broken record our last couple of games," said Mosher. "At least the last couple of games we've created opportunities, but we've got to bury some. That's been the thing. We've got to be able to change games by scoring early and taking our chances.
 
"We've got some good, creative players. Certainly the last four games, we've carried the majority of the play. The last two we've created a lot more chances than the previous two. We're looking for somebody to step up and become the goal scorer that we need at this stage of the game. It's not for lack of talent."

UBC (4-1-1) visits Alberta on Sunday (1:30 p.m. PT, Foote Field), while MacEwan hosts UNBC (3-4-1) at the same time (Clarke Stadium).