CALGARY - Nikki Wright scored the game-winning goal in the second half to lift the top-ranked Trinity Western Spartans past the University of Calgary Dinos 2-1 Sunday afternoon.
The 2008 Canada West player of the year and 2009 first team Canada West all-star put the Spartans up for good midway through the second half, putting it just inside the far post after a terrific pass from midfielder Natalie Boyd.
Forward Alexi Foster got her Spartans on the board first, finally putting a close-range shot past Calgary goaltender Kristen Barton amongst a scrum in front of the Dinos net. Both Foster and Calgarian Colleen Webber had their initial shots stymied by Barton before the open net was found.
With steadily improving offensive pressure throughout the first half, the Dinos were rewarded by their midfielder Brittany Benson in the 15th minute. Taking a pass from Lindsay Burrowes, Benson's long shot just squeaked past Spartans goaltender Kristen Funk to tie the game up at one.
Funk had eight saves in the victory for the Spartans, while Barton had her second eight-save loss of the weekend despite solid play in net for the Dinos.
Shortly after halftime the game was delayed due to a scary situation involving rookie Trinity Western defender Jennifer Castillo. After a Dinos free kick went wide of the Spartans' net, Castillo fell to the ground seemingly untouched and was attended by training staff. She was taken off the pitch via ambulance.
While Calgary is disappointed in starting the season off with the two losses, midfielder Sheila Morrison notes the vast improvement in the team's play already.
“We've been working very hard leading up to the season, and truthfully, we're really excited moving forward,” said Morrison, a third year Kinesiology student. “We proved to ourselves this weekend that we can compete with the best teams out there, which is really encouraging.”
“We're creating really good chances for ourselves, and we just need to work on finishing them now. We have no doubt in our ability and we're definitely encouraged by this weekend.”
The Dinos will head out on the road next weekend, facing both the University of Alberta Pandas and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, while the Trinity Western Spartans will return home to host the Regina Cougars and the Manitoba Bisons next weekend.
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