CALGARY - After a very slow start to the season, going winless through six games, a strong late season push finds the Calgary Dinos women's soccer team in the sixth and final spot in the Canada West playoff bracket. They will face the UBC Thunderbirds in quarterfinal action on Thursday in Victoria. The Victoria Vikes earned the right to host the conference championship after finishing first in Canada West.
After being shut out on Friday night at the hands of the Saskatchewan Huskies, the Dinos were faced with a do or die situation Sunday at Foote Field in Edmonton. With the Huskies waiting at home, eager to take that last playoff spot, the Dinos rose to the occasion. A gutsy 1-0 victory over the playoff-bound Alberta Pandas stamped their ticket to Victoria, where they will attempt to shock the Thunderbirds.
Dinos rookie Tessa Miller continued her outstanding play, scoring the lone goal of the game in the first half. Miller is currently tied for sixth in the conference in points with ten, and is a major reason why the Dinos have been able to accumulate a 5-2-1 record in their final eight games of the season.
Along with Miller, newcomer Kristen Barton, who has seen increased playing time in the late stages of the season, has been remarkably consistent for the Dinos at her young age. Barton has posted a 1.40 goals-against average through ten games, which is good for sixth in the conference, and has two shutouts to go with it. Miller and Barton will certainly need to be on their games as they head into a one-game quarterfinal tilt.
Having previously lost to the T-Birds 2-0 in the third game of the season, it would be easy for the Dinos to be intimidated coming into this weekend. Yet Calgary's confidence is much higher at this point of the season, as they have found consistent offensive production from the likes of Miller and Lindsay Burrowes to go along with their first-rate defense. It can be also be argued that Calgary may be in a fortuitous position going into their quarterfinal, as they play the role of the underdog with no outside expectations on a neutral field.
UBC sports some of the conference's top players, and will undoubtedly put significant pressure on a young Dinos squad. Jaclyn Dunnett, the 'Birds fourth year goaltender, has arguably been the biggest weapon for the west coast team, posting nine shutouts in 14 attempts, and posting a spectacular 0.47 GAA. With that type of security blanket behind her, T-Birds forward Caitlin Davie has been able to spearhead a very solid team effort on offense, leading the team with six goals.
The Dinos and T-Birds square off in the second game of Thursday afternoon, with the Manitoba Bisons and the Alberta Pandas battling in the first quarterfinal. The winners of both games will play on Saturday against either the second ranked Trinity Western Spartans, who host the CIS Women's Soccer Championship and subsequently own an automatic bid, or the Victoria Vikes. Along with the Spartans, one more team will represent Canada West at the CIS championships. The winner or runner-up (if Trinity Western wins) of the Canada West tournament will earn that second bid.
-UC-
