LETHBRIDGE – With big playoff implications for both teams, a penalty kick in the 78th minute would be all the scoring the Calgary Dinos would need in a 1-0 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Heading into the final weekend of the season, a single point for the Dinos would clinch second place and a home playoff date. Meanwhile, after the Winnipeg Wesmen did the 'Horns a favor last night by beating the MacEwan Griffins, a win by the 'Horns would secure them a playoff spot.
Looking to solidify that second place standing, the Dinos opened the game with some strong pressure and that pressure cumulated with a strike from Dominic Russo but 'Horns keeper Peter Desmond calmly made the save.
After withstanding the early Dino pressure the 'Horns looked to generate their own offence, but both the strong wind and defensive play kept the game scoreless.
Late in the half, the 'Horns Chris Rushworth had a good look from 25 yards out but his strong shot rode the wind and over the crossbar.
In injury time, Rushworth was back at it and had the best chance of either team in the opening half. Domenic Rigaux made a good run down the line, cutting the ball back into the box where Rushworth intercepted a clearing attempt from the Dinos in the box but Colin Hasick made a stellar diving save to keep the game scoreless at the half.
The 'Horns held a 7-2 shot advantage at the half but missed the net on all but one shot. Virtually all the other stats were dead even.
Early into the second half, the 'Horns looked dangerous, Shlomo Swan-Azmon crossed a ball into the box that bounced up over the Dino keepers hands, but Hasick was able to recover and collect the bouncing ball.
After a long stalemate, the Dinos had a chance of their own. A nice sequence of passing sent Russo into the box but his shot was blocked by Conner Brady before it could reach the net.
Only minutes later, Russo was taken down in the box and a penalty was awarded. After trying to get the ball to sit still in the wind, Andrew Hood took the penalty and Desmond guessed right getting a hand on the ball but could not keep in out of the net.
Pushing forward for the final ten minutes looking for the equalizer, the 'Horns struggled to significantly threaten and will have to wait until tomorrow to see if their season will continue into the post-season.
With the loss, the 'Horns fall to 3-6-2 on the season but still control their own fate as a win tomorrow would clinch an appearance in the post-season. For the Dinos, the win is their eighth in a row, improving their record to 8-3-0 on the season; they will host the Alberta Golden Bears next weekend in the Prairie Division quarter-final.
The 'Horns and Dinos will put a wrap on the Canada West Conference schedule tomorrow afternoon. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:15pm.
