CALGARY - A home and home set with the Lethbridge Pronghorns for both Dinos soccer teams proved almost perfect this past weekend. The women were able to sweep their southern rivals, with 5-1 and 2-1 victories, distancing themselves from the now last-place Pronghorns. The men dropped their first game in Lethbridge by a score of 2-1, but were able to rebound, and find their first victory of the season back home, taking a 4-0 decision on the West Varsity Soccer Pitch.
With both teams' playoff hopes still very much alive, they face a stiff test this weekend at home, facing the Trinity Western Spartans and the Fraser Valley Cascades on their home turf.
An offensive explosion in Lethbridge, and a character building victory in Calgary have the lady Dinos very encouraged coming into this weekend. The Dinos were able to match their previous overall season total of goals in one game this weekend, putting five in the Horns' net on Saturday. A late goal on Sunday by Joanna Ng gave the Dinos their key victory.
Midfielders Lindsay Burrowes (3rd, Calgary), and Tessa Miller (1st, Calgary) stepped up significantly this weekend, contributing seven points over two games combined. Goaltenders Kristen Barton (1st, Calgary) and Courtney Heffernan (3rd, Calgary) were solid in net for the Dinos, allowing only 2 goals over 2 games.
For the Dinos to beat the Spartans and Cascades, they will need to build on the offensive momentum created this past weekend, as both west coast squads are formidable opponents. Trinity Western, having only played six games compared to eight for the Dinos, is unbeaten this season, sporting a 4-0-2 record. In those six games the Spartans have thoroughly dominated their opponents, scoring 18 goals while only allowing three. Fraser Valley has also only played six games, and has been average so far, going 2-3-1 will all three losses coming at the hands of their BC counterparts who all sit higher in the standings.
With the season starting to wind down, wins are paramount for the Dinos this weekend to make a move in the playoff race. Currently sitting 7th in the conference, the Dinos are now only one point out of 5th place, with only the top 6 teams advancing to the playoffs. The teams tied for 5th in the Canada West, Alberta and Saskatchewan, face off twice this weekend, creating an interesting weekend of women's soccer.
If either of these two teams sweep the other, they would distance themselves significantly in the playoff race, while ties or a split would keep them deadlocked. With at least one win this weekend, the Dinos could move into the top 6, or at the very least keep pace with the pack, and two wins would give them a little bit of breathing room in the process. Losses wouldn't eliminate the Dinos at this point in the season, but would create a significant log-jam and upward climb in the bottom half of the division.
The men go into the weekend after splitting the home and home set with the Horns. They look ahead with two games versus their west coast rivals, Trinity Western and Fraser Valley, who have already handed the Dinos two early season losses.
This past Saturday proved difficult for the Dinos, as they suffered a 2-1 loss. First year back-up goalie Micheal Arnieri (Edmonton) played admirably in the absence of starter #J.P. Crescenzi# (3rd, Calgary), making six saves, but ultimately could not earn the victory. The Dinos were able to find an offensive touch in the second game of the set, scoring four goals from four different players, as they took the 4-0 victory. They received a very solid performance from their goalkeeper Crescenzi, who withstood a fervent Lethbridge attack in the second half of Sunday's game in Calgary, making seven saves and earning the shutout.
The Dinos have little choice after splitting the weekend series: win out. In a conference where only the top four teams make the Canada West playoffs, they currently sit five points back of the fourth place Alberta Golden Bears, with Fraser Valley and Saskatchewan sitting in between. Two wins are necessary to stay in the thick of the race without needing to rely on outside help at this point. Two losses or even ties would put the Dinos at a significant disadvantage, putting them on the brink of early playoff elimination.
Similar to the women, the men will need their offensive firepower in order to beat the strong BC schools. Younger players such as Alex Hanne (1st, Calgary) and Jeff Marsden (1st, Calgary) stepped up this past weekend, scoring key goals, but veterans Lauren Ramos (5th, Calgary), Carlos Cruz (5th, Calgary) and Tanmeet Singh (3rd, Calgary) still need to find big goals at big times in order for the Dinos to find the win column consistently.
All games are at the West Varsity Soccer Pitch on the UC campus this weekend. The Dinos welcome the Spartans on Saturday, with the women going at noon, and the men at 2:15 p.m.. The Cascades will play the Dinos on Sunday, with similar game times.
-UC-
