CALGARY - The Dinos men's soccer team proved they have the University of Alberta's number this season, downing the Golden Bears 2-1 on Saturday at West Varsity Pitch.
According to Dinos soccer manager Gord Franson, this is the first season in the team's 43 year history that they've beaten the University of Alberta in both games. (The Dinos also beat the Golden Bears 2-1 in Edmonton a few weeks ago.)
Calgary has been the only squad able to beat the Bears this season. With three games left, the Bears sit second in the prairies division with a 7-2-0 record. The win moves the Dinos up to third in the division, with a 5-2-2 record. Both the Dinos and the Golden Bears have two games in hand over the Mount Royal University Cougars, who lead the prairies division with a 7-3-1 record.
The game was electric right from the kick off. In the second minute, a lobbed pass from a Bears midfielder over the top of the Dinos back-four put forward Tolu Esan in a one-on-one with Dinos keeper Colin Hasick. Esan looked likely to score, but with pressure from Dinos center back Dominic Zator, he could only force a tame effort that Hasick saved easily.
After that first scoring chance, the game settled into more of a long-ball game, with neither the Dinos nor the Bears looking too concerned with keeping possession. Both teams took a no-nonsense approach to their defensive clearances, thumping the ball up the field and looking for knockdowns from the forwards.
The Dinos' first chance to score came in the 10th minute. Winger Mark Bohdan beat two defenders on the left side and worked his way into the Bears' 18-yard box. From a tight angle, Bohdan ripped a near-post shot, which Bears keeper Connor James palmed expertly up and over the cross bar.
As the half wore on, the home side's best player was center midfielder Robin Whittaker. The fourth-year was pinging inch-perfect cross-field passes to his team-mates, and also finished the half with three shots on goal.
"I think Robin has been outstanding for the last two or three games. Today he was outstanding again," said Dinos head coach Brendan O'Connell.
The first half was a fairly even affair, but it was the Dinos who were able to break the deadlock in the 40th minute. After James fumbled a corner kick that he originally caught, Bohdan was able to boot the ball into the net from the goal line to put the Dinos up 1-0.
The Dinos enjoyed the majority of scoring chances in the first half, outshooting the Bears 8-4.
As the second half kicked off, the Bears picked up their offensive intensity. They pinned the Dinos in their own half, peppering shot after shot at the Dinos goal.
Their efforts paid off in the 60th minute. A cross from the right into the box from Esan managed to bypass two Dinos defenders, before the ball was one-timed into the Dinos' net by forward Mohamed Taliani.
Despite more intensity from the Bears, the Dinos managed to score again in the 79th minute. Whittaker split the Bears' defense with a through ball to forward Dominic Russo, who flicked the ball up with his boot before volleying it ferociously into the top right corner. The game-winner is Russo's 8th goal of the season.
The Golden Bears pressed hard for the remainder of the game, but the Dinos managed to suppress the pressure and hold on for the win.
After the match, O'Connell said he was extremely pleased with the performance.
"We knew we were in for a tough game and we needed some character. They've done brilliantly, it's pleasing to see," said O'Connell.
"They've been solid. We've shown so much character playing against the best teams – going behind, coming back. For me that's been key."
The Dinos last home game of the regular season takes place against the Grant MacEwan Griffins on Sunday at 2:15, at West Varsity Pitch.
