CALGARY - The University of Calgary Dinos women's soccer team started their post-season with a 4-0 victory over the Mount Royal Cougars on Saturday afternoon.
The victory ensured their spot in the Canada West Final Six matchup to be played in Saskatchewan in November.
"I told them before the game, win or lose, that I would be proud of them and there's nothing to fear," said Head Coach Troye Flannery. "We can't fear losing and we have to focus on the thing that we can control. I'm proud of our culture and I am proud of our standards."
Natalie Arnett, with a breakaway off the pass of teammate Maddie Lee, took the ball up the right side. The Cougars Defence tried to keep up but she was able get an extra step ahead and kicked it bottom left corner off her right boot.
The Dinos took a 1-0 lead less than five minutes in.
"I just feel like it was time for me – they were my first goals of the season," said Arnett.
It looked like a fresh pair of legs would do the trick and extend the lead when Maddison Fritze subbed in and took a huge breakaway up the right side, but it would be blocked by Cougar's goalkeeper Meghan Pruhomme and the deficit would still only be one goal.
But not for long.
Arnett grabbed her second goal of the game in the 35th minute of play with another perfectly placed pas from Lee to Arnett at the top of the six. A quick kick from her right boot pushed the ball past the keeper and it was a 2-0 game.
"[Natalie] has worked hard all season, battled a couple injuries, she's a great kid and deserving of her success today," said Flannery.
The second half was just as fast-paced, but the Cougars managed to get a few more shots at keeper Samantha Chang-Foidl, but it also came with an injury.
In the 55th minute Emma Partridge subbed on for teammate Amy Hockings who was carried off the field after a collision in the 18 resulted in what could be a broken bone in her right foot.
The third goal of the game came off the foot of Jordan Smith with a pass from Kaely Biring. A quick touch from inside the left of the 18 sent the ball bottom left corner of the net. Prudhomme tried to get a touch on the ball but it would find the back of the net and it became a 3-0 game in the 62nd minute.
A scramble in front of the net off a corner looked like a fourth goal for the Dinos, but Purudhomme managed to get her body in front of the ball and the defensive line managed to push it up the field.
In the 88th minute, with a foul inside the box, the Dinos a chance on the dot. Dominica Wronski took the penalty shot and drove it down the middle, giving the Dinos their fourth and final goal.
They peppered the Cougars with shots, but it would finish a 4-0 game.
Arnett said the team starts off strong at the beginning of each season, and so they are going into the final six with the mindset of a fresh start.
"So that was our first game of the new season and we're gonna just keep going from there," said Arnett.
The women will continue their playoff run on Nov. 5-8 in the Canada West Final Six Tournament in Saskatchewan. Their opponent is yet to be determined.
