BOX SCORE CALGARY – After a rough road trip to open the 2012 season, the University of Calgary Dinos hosted their northern rivals, the No. 7-ranked University of Alberta Pandas, and played them to a gutsy 0-0 draw at West Varsity Soccer Pitch on Saturday afternoon.

The Dinos looked to avenge two losses to start the year on the west coast by the scores of 5-1 and 6-1 against UBC and Trinity Western, while Alberta aimed to improve on a 1-0-1 record following a draw versus Victoria and a win against Fraser Valley last weekend.

Both 'keepers, Calgary's Kristen Barton and Alberta's Kelti Biggs, stopped every shot they faced to earn shutouts for their respective teams.

“It was typical all-Alberta game, a lot of effect and a lot at stake,” said Dinos head coach Matthew Shepherd. “I think both teams were really going for it, so from a spectator's point of view it was probably a very good game to watch. I'm very happy with the girls' effort and the way they came out.”

After a very even start to the game, the Pandas received the best chance of the first 45 with only a few minutes left till the break. Off a Calgary foul, Elise Emmott took the shot for Alberta, getting it through a maze of Calgary players, only to be denied by Barton. Carleigh Miller was in the right place to put home the rebound from the front of the net, but the ball was removed from danger in the nick of time.

Alberta had another late attempt moments later as Kayla Michaels broke in with a Dinos defender trailing her. Michaels got as close as she could before letting the shot go but still had the ball go over the crossbar as the game remained scoreless at halftime.

In the second half the Pandas added to their list of solid scoring chances. Recent substitution Jessie Candlish moved in through the middle and let go a great shot on the Dinos' net. Barton continued her superb play though as she stretched out to the left and knocked away the ball to keep Alberta off the score sheet.

“I thought the whole backline did particularly well, I thought they were dealing with a lot of things back there,” added Shepherd. “Ally White, Krysten Strand, Katherine Lowey and Andrea Nania all did very well.”

Lauren Vernon (pictured) had some of the Dinos' best scoring chances of the afternoon, including one midway into the second half as she just missed out on a shot to the right of the Alberta net.

Calgary was able to manage their best pressure of the match late in the contest as Alberta began to show signs of fatigue. Despite maintaining much of the possession in the dying minutes, the Dinos were unable to find the back of the net as the game ended without a marker.

“It's so awesome to have so much more positivity coming out of our first home game,” explained fourth-year forward Lauren Deeks. “To have such a great crowd out supporting us was the best part of the game though.”

Calgary takes the field tomorrow in the first ever Canada West match-up between themselves and cross-town rival Mount Royal, while Alberta heads south to take on the Lethbridge Pronghorns.

-UC-