CALGARY – With the national championship on their home turf in early November, the University of Calgary Dinos got their 2011 season off to a positive start with a 2-0 blanking of the Victoria Vikes Saturday afternoon at Hawkings Field.

Steph Petrowitsch turned aside every Vikes shot she faced to earn her first shutout of the season, while Michelle Roydhouse (pictured) and Keara Chicquen found the back of the net for the Dinos, who open the season 1-0.

“It was a good start,” said reigning CIS coach of the year Jenn Swagar. “At least the outcome was good. I didn't particularly like some parts of the performance. We need to work on the basics and execute better. There were maybe some jitters starting the season, but there were big chunks of the game where we really didn't follow the game plan.

“I like the power and the speed that we brought in flow, even though UVic likes to break you down and it's hard to create flow against them.”

Roydhouse got the Dinos on the scoreboard early with her goal in just the seventh minute, flicking a shot past Vikes 'keeper Leah Farnan off a penalty corner situation. That lead stood up at the half, and Calgary headed into the second 35 looking to increase their cushion.

Keara Chicquen brokered that insurance in the 53rd minute as Calgary head-manned the ball up the sidelines to the forward, who was able to get it past Farnan.

“When our forwards get it with speed, it's pretty,” said Swagar. “We had some more opportunities and didn't capitalize on them, and now we just need to finish.”

The Dinos and Vikes face each other once more when the two-game series ends Sunday, with a scheduled start time of 1 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY
CGY – Michelle Roydhouse (penalty corner), 7'
CGY – Keara Chicquen (field goal), 53'

-UC-