WINNIPEG - Fourth year forward Dominc Russo had a five point match to lead the University of Calgary Dinos to a 5-0 shutout victory over the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Saturday afternoon at the Winnipeg Soccer Complex.
Calgary improves to 7-2-2 while the Wesmen fall to 1-9-1. With the win, the Dinos clinch a home playoff game next weekend.
Russo scored twice in the opening half (32' and 36' min) and completed his hat trick in the 70th minute. Today also made history for the fourth-year and for the men's soccer program. Russo becomes the highest scoring Dino in one season. He has scored a total of 13 goals on the season and still has one game left. He leads the nation in scoring with 13 goals and three assists for a total of 16 points.
Robin Whitaker (25' min) and
Mark Bohdan (67' min) completed the scoring for the Dinos. Russo chipped in with asasists on each of the goals to complete his five point day.
Winnipeg had their best scoring chances very early in the match thanks to the foot of midfielder Enrique Garcea. Garcea's free kick in the 5th minute had Dinos Goalkeeper
Colin Hasick beat but the shot hit the right goal post. Winnipeg was awarded another free kick soon after but Garcea's shot was saved cleanly by Hasick.
After Winnipeg's early scoring chances, the Dinos controlled the rest of the contest. Whitaker opened the scoring in the 25th minute taking a pass from Russo who zig-zagged thru the Wesmen defence to open the scoring.
Dominic Russo closed out the half scoring two goals in a four-minute span to extend the Calgary lead to 3-0, where the score stood at the halftime break.
After a cautious opening 20 minutes of the second half, Calgary put the match away with two more goals. First year forward
Mark Bohdan made it 4-0 in the 67th minute and soon after Russo closed out the scoring with his third of the contest in the 70th minute.
Calgary had 14 total shots. Winnipeg managed five.
The teams will wrap up their regular season-ending series Sunday afternoon at the Winnipeg Soccer Complex. Match time is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. The Dinos will then go on to host a playoff game on Oct. 31 at 2:15pm. The opponent is still to be determined.
