CALGARY – The Calgary Dinos men's soccer team was full marks for its first victory of the season Sunday, defeating the Lethbridge Pronghorns 4-0 on a glorious sunny day in the foothills.
Three goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half blew open a tightly-played contest in the Dinos' favour, and #J.P. Crescenzi# made several sparkling saves late in the game to maintain the shutout, his first of the season.
“We had pressure today, and that turned into goals,” said Dinos coach Andy Gibbs. “As soon as the second one went in we were in full control.
“I think we could have done this yesterday and made it easier on ourselves. Obviously J.P. helps us, settling us down in the back.”
Crescenzi missed the opener of the home-and-home series Saturday in Lethbridge, a 2-1 'Horns victory, for personal reasons, and his presence was a steadying influence on the Dinos.
Jeff Marsden opened the scoring with the eventual winner in the 29th minute, beating Pronghorns 'keeper Colin Pattison amid confusion in the area. Lauren Ramos drew the assist.
Following the halftime break, the Dinos struck again quickly on another strange play where a long shot from the outside bounced over Pattison's head and into the goal just two minutes into the second half. Dinos defender Joe Long was credited with the goal, his first of the season.
Calgary put it away with two more seven minutes apart midway through the second half. In the 60th minute, Ben Cole took a nice feed from Alex Hanne and patiently out-waited Pattison before striking it into the cage. Tanmeet Singh also drew an assist on Cole's first of the season. Hanne added a goal for himself in the 67th minute.
Calgary dominated the first 30 minutes of the second half before Lethbridge began to apply pressure in the late stages. The Dinos had three breakaway chances but failed to score, with Carlos Cruz having perhaps the best opportunity with a wide open net from five yards out, only to have the ball glance off the outside of his foot. Pattison made his best stop of the day on a Calgary free kick mere yards in front of the net which eluded the Lethbridge wall and looked destined for the left corner before the 'Horns netminder intervened.
The final 15 minutes of the game were all Lethbridge, and they ended up with six shots on goal – all of which came late. Crescenzi made fine stops on all of them, including three off the foot of 'Horns forward Greg Remjin.
The win moves the Dinos out of last place in the Canada West standings at 1-5-2 as they enter the second half of the 2008 season, while Lethbridge drops to 1-6-1. Both teams play at home next weekend and will host the Fraser Valley Cascades and Trinity Western Spartans.
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