CALGARY - Both going 0-1-1 on their recent prairie road swing, the Dinos soccer teams now look to their home field to help keep pace in Canada West.

Currently ninth in Canada West at 0-3-1, the Dinos women haven't started out as quickly as they had hoped in conference play. However with all three of their losses coming at the hands of the top three Canada West teams, the Dinos will be looking to make up ground this weekend against teams with similar standing.

Tessa Miller, who scored 12 goals in her first two years in the Calgary red and white, scored her first goal of 2010 in the Dinos' 3-1 loss to Alberta this past weekend and had an assist against Saskatchewan on Sunday. Both Miller and senior striker Morena Ianniello, who remains scoreless in 2010, will need to keep pushing on the offensive end to help carry their team to victory this weekend.

Some key secondary scoring came the Dinos' way on Sunday against the Huskies, as Saaraa Premji and Lauren Deeks each notched a goal, while senior Lindsay Burrowes leads the team in assists with two from her midfield position.

The Manitoba Bisons (0-2-2) and the Regina Cougars (1-2-1) come to the West Varsity Pitch on Saturday and Sunday afternoons respectively, and both have as much to prove as the lady Dinos do.

The Bisons have had to play all four B.C. teams consecutively to start the season and have fared relatively well, losing by no less than one goal and drawing with the No. 5 UBC Thunderbirds. Manitoba has struggled on the offensive end however, scoring only one goal through four games, courtesy of Meagan Smith.

The Cougars opened their season with a win against UFV and have thus far been somewhat of a surprise in Canada West, collecting four points against the four B.C. teams. Adrianna Bonutti notched both markers against the Cascades and the leads Regina in points.

After a strong 2-0 start and a no. 8 ranking in the national poll last week, the men have come back down to earth. Dropping a 3-1 decision to Alberta and knotting up at one with Saskatchewan this past weekend, the Dinos' spot in the top-ten now belongs to the Golden Bears, but perhaps so does the pressure of holding such rank.

Leading scorers Izak Lawrence and Brian Delaney each added to their season totals with two assists and a goal respectively, and despite their team going 0-1-1 have not showed signs of cooling off. Jeremy Jenkyns also scored, bringing his season total to two in a reserve role in 2010.

Led by goaltender #J.P. Crescenzi#, the Dinos defence reverted back to form in the 1-1 tie after giving up three goals to their northern rivals on Saturday. With the likes of Matthew Reid and Jeff Marsden standing tall in the backfield with plenty of big game experience, the defence will need to hold tight once again against tougher competition this upcoming weekend.

The UBC Thunderbirds and the Trinity Western Spartans come to Calgary this weekend with 3-0-0 and 2-1-1 records as well as the No. 2 and 7 rankings respectively. Needless to say, should the 2-1-1 Dinos manage to hold court at home, it would be a definite achievement after already dispatching the previously #5 Victoria Vikes in their home opener.

Both Marco Visintin and Garrett Peters have scored twice for the Birds and Spartans respectively through three games, while Spartan forward Danfi Parker has a goal and an assist.

The goaltenders for both teams are as good as they come, as Zach Kalthoff and Andrew Fink have yet to give up a goal for UBC and TWU. The lone loss for TWU was to UBC in their home opener, a 3-0 defeat in which Andrew Kowan played in net.

Following the weekend clashes, the Dinos will engage in a home-and-home series with the Lethbridge Pronghorns with Calgary playing host on Sunday, Oct. 3.

-UC-