CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women's soccer team grabbed its sixth win of the season with a 2-0 victory over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Smith scored both tallies for the Dinos in the opening half as Calgary improves to 6-2-1 on the season. Lethbridge falls to 2-4-3.
"It was a good, solid win," said Assistant Coach Jamie Pollock, acting as head coach in the absence of
Troye Flannery.
"It wasn't an outstanding performance, but a professional, solid performance and we're pretty pleased with that."
It looked like the Dinos were going to take the lead early in the game when Smith came in from the bottom of the six with a kick from her right boot, but defenceman Kim Shellenberg would keep the ball out and give the Dinos at a chance at a corner; which would go unanswered.
There wouldn't be a goal until the 21st minute when
Jordan Smith got the pass of
Maddie Lee who was at the top of the 18. She slipped the ball through to Smith and tucked it into the corner of the net.
Smith said Lee is strong with playing through-balls and saw Smith making the run and perfected the timing.
"Jordan's strength is that she is physically very strong," added Pollock. "I thought we did a good job as a team of getting behind them consistently, and a lot of the times that was Jordan."
The second goal in the dying moments of the first half, for her second of the game, came off the foot of Smith with a pass from teammate
Dominica Wronski. Taking the shot from the right side of the 18-yard line, goalkeeper Micaela Stone got her fingertips on the ball, but it wasn't enough and it would go top left shelf and the Dinos would end the half with a 2-0 lead.
"I think it was good to end the half with another goal," she said. "You know, 1-0 is good, but 2-0 is better to ensure the lead.
"I've struggled with scoring, and I think I came out today … and I had a lot of opportunities, and probably could have had a couple more," said Smith. "This was definitely one of my better games."
The Dinos donned their pink jerseys this weekend in support of the Play in Pink initiative, in support of breast cancer awareness. Pollock said as a male he doesn't have to worry as intensely, but having a sister and a mother encourages him to support the research.
"It affects so many people," he said.
Calgary will face the Pronghorns in a return engagement Sunday afternoon in Lethbridge before returning home next week to face UBC and Victoria.
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