CALGARY - The Dinos men's soccer team finished off their home games for the 2015 season with an emphatic 5-0 victory over the Grant MacEwan University Griffins on Sunday at West Varsity Pitch.
The win gives the Dinos a perfect record at home this year, taking 15 points from five games at West Varsity Pitch.
"We've been awesome at home. This is our back yard and I don't think anybody wants to come play us here," said Dinos head coach Brendan O'Connell.
The loss ended a rough weekend in Calgary for the Griffins, who also lost their other game this weekend 3-0 to the Mount Royal University Cougars.
As the final home game of the season, two senior Dinos players were honoured before kick-off. Fifth-year goalkeeper Colin Hasick and fourth-year central midfielder James Gourlay both played in the final regular-season home game of their Dinos careers.
"Obviously it's a little emotional. It's been a good three years," said Gourlay. "But providing we clinch that second spot, a BC team will come here [for play-offs] and we'll get one more home game."
Hasick, who has been the team's first choice keeper for the last two seasons, spoke after the game about what it's meant to play for the Dinos.
"It hasn't sunk in yet. I think once the season's over I'll start to miss it, just being with the guys and everything that comes with playing for the University of Calgary," said Hasick. "It's been a great five years with the program."
The game started cagey, with both teams feeling each other out. After playing a very direct style of play for several games this season, the Dinos changed it up on Sunday, trying to hold onto possession and look for more short passes.
"We wanted to keep the ball, we thought that was important and I think we did that well today," said O'Connell.
It took the Dinos until the 21st minute to break the deadlock. Gourlay played a bouncing pass to forward Dominic Russo, who managed to dink the ball over an on-rushing Dylan Powley for his ninth goal of the season.
As the half continued, center back and Captain Dominic Zator was crucial for the home side. The fourth-year kept the back four organized and gave nothing away, cancelling out the Griffins' attacks with a series of vital tackles and blocks.
"[Zator] embodies what we're about as our captain. He leads by example and is consistent week in, week out," said O'Connell.
The Dinos almost made it 2-0 in the 40th minute. After receiving the ball on the right side of the Griffins' 18-yard box, winger Mark Bohdan struck a tight-angle shot to the near post that Powley managed to save with his outstretched foot.
But as the half came to a close, the score was still 1-0 to the Dinos.
The home side came out full guns blazing in the second half. A neat passing play involving four Dinos players in the 47th minute left forward Michael Mackinnon through on goal, but the fourth-year could only smack his effort off the crossbar.
In the 67th minute, the Dinos had a penalty shout after Russo was tripped in the box following a break away, but no call was given.
The Dinos continued to press into the Griffins' half, pouring players forward in an attempt to double their lead.
It would be substitute Jorge Leon-Gomez who eventually made the difference. Looking lively as soon as he came onto the field, Leon-Gomez would eventually make the score 2-0 in the 70th minute. After controlling a headed clearance from Foster with his chest, Leon-Gomez fired a spectacular volley from 20 yards out, rifling the ball off the post and into the top corner of the Griffins' net.
That goal opened the floodgates and for the rest of game, it was all Dinos. Three minutes later, Russo was tripped again just inside the box, earning a penalty kick. Bohdan stepped up to take it. While his tame effort was initially saved by Powley, Bohdan followed up on the rebound and managed to stab the ball home from close-range to make the score 3-0.
Six minutes after that, the Dinos scored their fourth. A pass from debutant Nathan Thompson put Russo through on goal. The fourth year took the ball into the right side of the Griffins' box before firing a right-footed shot low past Powley into the bottom left corner. The goal puts Russo into double-digits for scoring this season.
As the clock ticked down, Gourlay would put the icing on the cake in the 85th minute. Stealing the ball from the Griffins left-back, the midfielder went on a long run across the field, before lifting a left-footed shot in off the crossbar.
The game couldn't have gone much better for the honourees. Gourlay finished with a goal and an assist, while Hasick earned his second clean sheet of the season.
"It's special to end on a high note. I'm pleased to end with a clean sheet and more importantly, with three points to move on as we try to get second place," said Hasick.
The win puts the Dinos in third place in the prairies division, with a 6-2-2 record and one weekend left to play. The Dinos will travel to Winnipeg next weekend for two games against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, who currently sit bottom of the division with a 1-8-1 record. Three points from two games would be enough to clinch second place for the Dinos.
If the Dinos finish the season in second place, they will play the first match of the Canada West playoffs at West Varsity Pitch on Oct. 31.
