CALGARY – The biggest challenge the Dinos field hockey team will face this weekend is keeping its focus on the visiting University of Alberta Pandas and off the out-of-town scoreboard.

The Victoria Vikes' magic number to claim the final Canada West playoff berth at the CIS championship in Guelph is one point. That means that they need only a tie in either of their games against UBC this weekend, or Calgary to fail to defeat the Pandas in both of their contests.

The Dinos have reason for optimism, however. They host a winless Alberta squad that has scored only two goals in ten games. Earlier this season the Dinos earned a pair of shutout victories against their provincial rivals. Should they duplicate that result and Victoria drop both games with the Thunderbirds, the Dinos and Vikes would finish the season with identical 6-4-2 records. By virtue of their superior head-to-head record, the Dinos would earn the final playoff spot.

Last weekend's series between Victoria and Calgary is a major reason neither team is satisfied with their current position. The Dinos won Saturday's game 1-0 on the strength of a goal by Claire Beaton, but the Vikes responded strongly the next day with a 2-1 victory to earn the split.

Alberta lost both of their games to UBC by 1-0 scores. While holding the Thunderbirds to two goals was an accomplishment, the Pandas' extreme lack of offence continued to keep them from being competitive.

The Dinos can take great pride in the fact that they have made this season as exciting as it is. After winning five games in 2008 and 2009 combined, they have four this season with two games to go. They would love nothing more than to take care of business at home and then cross their fingers.

The Dinos and Pandas square off this Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hawkings Field.

-UC-