EDMONTON - The race for the final Canada West berth into the CIS championships just got a little more interesting as the University of Calgary Dinos exploded for a 3-1 win over the home town Alberta Pandas, Sunday afternoon at Foote Field in Edmonton.
Coming into the weekend the Dinos had struggled to score goals and concurrently, pick up wins. During Saturday's afternoon tilt, the Pandas were the better team and came away with a 2-1 win, setting up the Sunday sweep which would have all but eliminated the Dinos from contention. However, a late first half goal by Kaitlin Longworth gave the Calgary squad all the momentum they needed as they scored twice in the second half for a huge win.
The victory moves Calgary's record to 1-5 on the season, while the Pandas drop to 2-4 with both teams having four more games to go. Alberta hosts Victoria next weekend and then travels to Calgary for their final games, while the Dinos will make a playoff run from home as they welcome the UBC Thunderbirds next weekend and then the Pandas.
After tying twice last season Calgary was finally able to beat their provincial rivals, their first victory over the Pandas since the 2003-04 season, thanks to a two goal performance by Longworth and a single from Courtney Campbell.
Carla Duncan's Alberta side got on the board first and looked set for another victory when 15 minutes in, Erin Mason notched her first of the season off a short corner play. Mason, a midfielder and member of the Senior National team, was all over the field today using her speed and stick-handling abilities to knife through the Calgary defence but along with the rest of the Alberta offence was stymied for the rest of the match.
The Dinos levelled the score in the 29 minute of the opening half when Longworth collected a loose ball deep in the Panda zone and fired a seeing-eye shot that eluded the Alberta defenders and goalie Lili Zhang.
In the 56 minute Calgary picked up their first lead of the season when Campbell deftly tipped a low shot into the top half of the Alberta net off a Calgary short corner play.
Longworth sealed the deal in the 63 minute when she broke in all alone on Zhang and deked out the freshman 'keeper for the empty net goal.
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