CALGARY - After giving up an early two goal lead, the University of Calgary Dinos received an opportunity when it mattered most as fifth year defender Matthew Reid made good on a penalty kick in the 89th minute to push the Dinos over the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades by a score of 4-2.

BOX SCORE

Fraser Valley had fought back from an early 2-0 deficit and seemed to have the Dinos on their heels with all the games' momentum in hand after Craig Robinson's breakaway goal in the 78th minute. However when a free kick by Dinos midfielder Ilya Zelinskiy was batted away by a Cascade in the box, it gave the Dinos a golden opportunity which Reid refused to throw away.

Keeping the ball on the ground, Reid went right as Cascades goalkeeper Colton Keam went left, giving the Dinos the game-winner they needed at just the right time. Fourth year forward Jeremy Jenkyns would add an insurance marker in extra time, putting a great pass from Hani Abdelkader past an outstretched Keam on the late breakaway.

Keam made five saves on the afternoon while his counterpart #J.P. Crescenzi# made seven in net for the Dinos.

The hot foot of Izak Lawrence would open the scoring early for Calgary on a powerful shot amidst a scramble in front of the Cascades net. It was the third goal for Lawrence in just two games to open the season, and the second year forward attributes it to increased confidence coming into the season.

“I've been trying to just relax out there a little bit more and let the chances come to me,” said the Calgarian. “I know that I'm going to get the opportunities, and if I stay calm, I can get a much better strike on the ball. So far it's been working out well.”

Midfielder Brian Delaney would make the game 2-0 for Calgary on a perfectly placed free kick in the 30th minute, giving the home-side a great deal of confidence with the multi-goal lead.

However not to be out-done, second-year Cascade Sasa Plavsic would humble the Dinos with a beautiful free kick of his own, pounding it off of the cross-bar and in to make it 2-1 right before halftime.

Robinson's late goal for Fraser Valley would not help the visitors, who fall to 1-1-0 on the year. The Cascades will stay on the road next weekend, albeit closer to home, as they visit the Trinity Western Spartans and UBC Thunderbirds.

It was a character win for the Dinos, one in which Lawrence is very proud of.

“I think we showed some great resiliency today, and to fight back like that at the end of the game really shows what we're made of,” said Lawrence.

“We're excited to get the weekend sweep, and we're looking forward to continuing with the season,” he concluded.

Calgary improves to 2-0-0 on the season with the victory, and will now head on the road to face the University of Alberta Golden Bears and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies next weekend.

-UC-