CALGARY - With two losses this past weekend against the Vikes of University of Victoria, there is still much work to be done for the Dinos field hockey team. However, keeping their in-conference foes close for the majority of two games has the Dinos looking ahead with confidence.

With an opening game loss of 2-1, and holding the Vikes to a tie until midway through the second half of the Sunday game, losing 4-1, the Dinos showed the defensive intensity that they will need this for the rest of the season. This is something that pleased returning Canada West Head Coach of the Year Jenn Swagar to no end.

With Emma Guppy (2nd, Vancouver) and Kaitlin Longworth (2nd, Calgary) providing the goals for the Dinos this weekend, they seem to be on the right start for the season. Rookie sensation Carolina Romeo (1st, Calgary) has yet to find her scoring touch as well, something the Dinos will need in order to be successful this year and in the future.

The perennially strong T-Birds come off a weekend sweep of the University of Alberta Pandas by scores of 2-0 and 2-1, and will be a formidable foe for the Dinos this upcoming weekend. The Dinos will need to show their youthful energy as well as a keen focus to compete against UBC on their home turf in Vancouver.

The Thunderbirds feature Teryn Buna, the All-Canadian defender who played four brilliant years for the Dinos before moving to the coast this summer to begin physiotherapy studies at UBC, and this weekend will be the fifth-year player's first chance to take on her old teammates.

Calgary remains on the road next weekend at Alberta before returning home to face the same T-Birds Oct. 4-5.

-UC-