CALGARY – A goal in each half proved too much for the Dinos to handle on Sunday, as the women's' field hockey team lost their second game of the season 2-0 to the UBC Thunderbirds at Hawkings field.
Put on the defensive for much of the game, the Dinos' spirited efforts to not concede were eventually broken down by a barrage of T-Bird attacks.
"The Thunderbirds definitely came out harder and faster today," said Dinos head coach Henré Meyer. "They really pressed us and while we expected that, it took us a little longer to adjust. There was a little indecisiveness from us and they punished us when we gave them the opportunity to."
The T-Birds' goals came from midfielders Gabby Jayme and Hannah Haughn.
Like on Saturday, the Dinos started well, matching the T-Birds' intensity for the first 10 minutes. There was little to separate the teams, as both pressed each other's defense high up the field. But with much better passing than they showed on Saturday, UBC started to take control of the game as the half wore on. Getting numbers up the field, the T-Birds started winning a stream of short-corners.
The T-Birds took the lead in the 20th minute, with Jayme scoring her first goal of the season. Haughn picked up the ball on the right side, before working her way into the Dinos' zone and ripping a shot at keeper Beckett Frisch. Frisch made the first save, but the rebound knocked the ball back into play, where it eventually fell to Jayme to knock in.
UBC's pressure continued after the goal. The visitors kept the Dinos defenders on their toes, with a series of short-corners and free-hits. As usual, Haughn was the focal point in offense, creating several chances for the T-Birds.
For the Dinos, it was midfielder Janelle Rice who looked capable of making something happen. The fourth-year was linking well with her team-mates out wide and made a few positive surges into the T-Birds' end before the horn blew to end the first half.
In the second half, the T-Birds' pressure continued where it left off. Their second goal came five minutes after the restart, with Haughn whipping a shot in from just inside the Dinos' arc. Frisch got a pad to it, but it wasn't enough to keep the ball out.
Frisch was put through her paces throughout the second half. A handful of acrobatics, as well as a stick-save in the 53rd minute proved why she was the Canada West MVP in 2014.
The Dinos tried valiantly to get back into the game, but the aggressive UBC pressing prevented them from creating many scoring opportunities. After 70 tough minutes, the horn sounded to end the game.
Meyer said that despite the results, his team's performances this weekend have shown improvements from past years. He gave credit to the team's spirit and determination to battle for the whole game.
"They've realized from yesterday they have to play for the whole 70 minutes and they kept playing today, they kept fighting for it. They're getting shots on goal, they're getting corners, they're making progress," said Meyer.
The Dinos' season continues at home next weekend, when they take on the undefeated University of Victoria Vikes.
"[The Vikes] are another strong team who have been together for a couple years. They beat UBC last weekend. We'll work on some technical aspects and a few tactical tweaks –– again, working on our presses and our outletting. We just have to have some confidence," said Meyer.
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