EDMONTON - The University of Calgary Dinos bounced back from their Saturday loss to score twice in the final 10 minutes and hand the Alberta Golden Bears their first loss of the season by a 2-1 score Sunday at Foote Field.
The Dinos improve to 3-1 with the victory, while the Bears fall to the same 3-1 record.
Tolu Esan scored his third goal of the year for Alberta, while
Robin Whittaker and third-year forward
Lindon Fedorick scored for the Dinos in the win. With the loss, Bears coach Len Vickery, now in his 31st season with the program, remains at 199 conference wins.
The Calgary Dinos looked fresh in the opening half. Third-year midfielder
James Gourlay just missed from inside of five yards, but chipped the ball over the net, and
Tom Widdowson ripped his shot wide in the 44th minute. However, the game remained scoreless after 45 minutes, with Calgary holding the 10-5 shot advantage.
The tide seemed to change directions to start the second half, as it was the Golden Bears who opened the scoring. Esan accepted a great through ball from Mo Teliani in the 50th minute, and snuck the breakaway chance short-side on Dinos 'keeper
Colin Hasick.
The Bears continued to pressure Calgary, looking for an insurance goal, including another great opportunity for Esan in tight, but Hasick was up to the challenge. Just when the match seemed to be slipping out of Calgary's hands, an 81st minute foul inside the box from Bears defender Cameron Borrett, handed it right back to them. Whittaker snuck the penalty shot past the diving attempt from Bears keeper Connor James, and the game was even at one.
Only two minutes later, Fedorick finished off a Dinos two-on-one chance in close, giving Calgary the late 2-1 lead. Alberta would get a pair of chances late to even the match; Teliani's header would find the post in the 89th minute, and Niko Saler's shot in added time sailed just over the bar, but Calgary would hold on the the one goal victory.
The Dinos head back on the road for a long three-day trip next weekend as they face the Saskatchewan Huskies Friday in Saskatoon, followed by a trip to Lethbridge to take on the Pronghorns Sunday.
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