CALGARY - The Dinos women's soccer team is in control of its own destiny this weekend, needing two wins to lock up a coveted Canada West Final Six playoff berth. Facing off on the road against the Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Alberta Pandas, two teams they lost and tied to earlier in the season and who are currently in the playoff hunt themselves, the Dinos will certainly have their hands full.
Accompanying the women will be the Dinos men's team, who are coming off of a very successful weekend against two national soccer powerhouses in UBC and the University of Victoria. However the great weekend turned out to be a classic example of “too little too late” for the men, who are now playing for pride as opposed to a playoff berth.
The women come off of a tie and a win this past weekend against the Manitoba Bisons and the Regina Rams, and are in the position they wanted to be in coming into the last week of regular season action. Two wins against their rivals this weekend will secure a Canada West playoff bid for Calgary, and ties and losses will not necessary eliminate them either.
Currently riding a nice wave of momentum themselves, that third Albertan soccer program, the Lethbridge Pronghorns, are looking to make things even more interesting. The 'Horns, who make the same trip as the Dinos in reverse, facing the Pandas and then the Huskies, are coming off of a weekend sweep of the Bisons and the Rams and are tied with the Dinos for sixth in the Conference. The saving grace for the Dinos is that they own the tie-breaker, thanks to two wins over the Pronghorns midway through the season. While definitely an added cushion, the tie-breaker will not give the Dinos very much breathing room this weekend.
All four teams have a shot at making or missing the playoffs in one weekend, which sets up a very suspenseful season finale. Sitting eighth (the Huskies), sixth (the Dinos and the 'Horns) and fifth (the Pandas) and collectively only separated by eight points in the standings, there will be no games off, as each team has much to play for coming down the stretch.
The Dinos will look to Lindsay Burrowes and Tessa Miller to continue their scoring ways as well as their goalies, Courtney Heffernan and Kristen Barton, to keep up their solid teamwork in net. Players such as Katie McKilligan and Saaraa Premji, who have been underrated in their contributions to the Dinos thus far this season, will also need to maintain their consistency and leadership on the pitch for Calgary.
The men, who held their nationally ranked B.C. opponents scoreless this past weekend, have turned a corner in a season that they would probably rather forget. Currently 2-7-3 on the year, their playoff hopes were officially dashed with their surprising 0-0 tie against the UBC T-Birds. Determined to not let that disappointment get to them, they came back on Sunday with inspired soccer against a Victoria Vikes team that has been sensational all year. Playing the part of the hero, Lauren Ramos, in his last home game as a Dino, made good on a corner kick in the 80th minute, giving Calgary the 1-0 win.
Having previously lost to the Huskies 2-1 and tied the Golden Bears 2-2, Calgary will look to change their fortunes and finish the season on a strong note in Saskatoon and Edmonton. Hoping to use the momentum created against UBC and UVic to their advantage, the Dinos will need to come out strong against their prairie opponents.
Goaltender #J.P. Crescenzi# took home a Canada West Player of the Week nod for his efforts this past weekend, a well deserved award as he shut-out the number two and three ranked teams in the country. The Dinos will be counting once again on their rock-solid goalkeeper this weekend, as they have struggled all year in creating offense.
Ramos' game winning goal against the Vikes ended up being monumental in more than one way, as it marked the third straight year that the Dinos have beaten the Vikes in Calgary. It also broke a 350 minute dry spell for the Dinos, in which Calgary was unable to score a goal. For the offense to finish strong in a season where goals were scarce, Jeremy Jenkyns and David Bird will need to keep up their tenacity on the front line, as both young forwards created several excellent scoring chances this past weekend.
The Alberta Golden Bears and the Saskatchewan Huskies are currently in a three team fight for the final playoff spot in the Canada West Final Four playoff tournament. The Bears currently hold the lead amongst the three in the playoff race, but are far from locked in. The Dinos will have an opportunity to spoil the playoff fortunes for not only one team, but perhaps even both teams this weekend, which would certainly bring a smile to the faces of the young men's team.
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