CALGARY - The Dinos Women's Soccer team fell 1-0 to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Saturday afternoon at the West Varsity Soccer Pitch.

Both teams are top of their divisions at the tail-end of the season; the Thunderbirds ranked first in the Pacific division of the Canada West league, and the Dinos in second of the Prairie division.

"We had several chances to put our mark on the game and score on the opportunity," said head coach Troye Flannery.

"I think the majority of the team put their best foot forward in an effort to compete, but we've got to finish out chances and I've said that all year long. If we ever put that together I like our odds a lot."

Despite the loss and lack of finishing on opportunities, Flannery said the team matched up well to the first-place team – especially on the back-line.

The Thunderbirds dominted the Dinos half at the beginning of the game, but keeper Samantha Chang-Foidl would come away with a shut-out in the first.

A foul on Thunderbirds' #22 Krista Whittaker gave the Dinos their first real chance of the game. Mollee Ramsay took the kick but would push it too wide.

With a barrage of shots from both teams on the keepers, the back-line would hold strong and the first half would end in a clean sheet.

UBC's #12 Nicole Sydor took a header at the 59-minute mark from middle of the 18. Chang-Foidl dove left from side of the six and managed to ground the ball before it crossed the line, keeping the girls in the game.

The defence could only keep the Thunderbirds at bay for so long though, and at the 87th minute UBC's #11 Amrit Berar would take a pass from teammate #18 Taylor Shannik and drive it up the right side of the field. A clean shot from inside the 18 to the far left corner past Chang-Foidl's hand gave the Thunderbirds the first lead of the game.

"She had been attacking the sideline all game, and I wanted to come out on her but I didn't want to come out too far to give away an easy cross," said Chang-Foidl.

"And I just didn't get enough on it." 

Chang-Foidl said one word the team uses repeatedly is "relentless," and that is the exact word used to describe her play against the Thunderbirds. Relentless in pursuit of the ball, getting through a crowd, getting on rebounds and getting on spills were the areas she said she and the team needed to be focused on.

"I find if I am behind everybody's back they'll [always] be behind me [too]," she said.

"And even up front it coordinates with our midfielders getting behind each other – so for me I had to get to every knock-down today and my team supported me when I did."

Despite having each other's backs, the lone-goal would be the only of the game and the Thunderbirds would come out with the three points in their favour.

"I am disappointed for [Samantha] because she made a couple of really key saves at key times," said Flannery.

"And we let her down."

Because they are second in the division the Dinos have already secured their spot going into playoffs, but Flannery wants to clinch the home-pitch advantage.

"We've qualified for playoffs already, but I'm not really interested in that," he said.

"We want to try and win home-field advantage and make some noise."

The Dinos take on the Victoria Eagles Sunday at noon at the West Varsity Soccer Pitch in their final home-game of the season.