BOX SCORE CALGARY – After being ranked No. 4 in the Canada West preseason coaches poll, the University of Calgary Dinos men's soccer team put their skills and reputation to the test as they opened their 2017 season with a 2-1 win against the MacEwan Griffins. 

After struggling to push smoothly through each other's' defences, the first goal of the 2017 season was not in the Dinos favour as the Griffins' Lahai Mansaray struck the ball into the Dinos' net in the 15th minute of action. The Dinos bounced back with a 26th minute goal from Jorge Gomez. 

Later in the first period, a tripping yellow card against Cristiano De Carvalho gave the Griffins a chance to take the lead but a spectacular save by goalkeeper Colton Borle against an authoritative kick from the Griffins' Christian Kosmin kept the score 1-1.

After the half, defensive and offensive struggles continued for both teams alongside tough calls from the referees which frustrated the Dinos coaching staff. At the 73rd minute, however, a dazzling dash to the Griffins' box allowed Dominic Zuczek to send a smooth assist to Bryce Connors for the goal that sealed the deal for the Dinos.

Head coach Brendan O'Connell was pleased with his team's success despite not having played together for very long.

"We've only been together as a group for two weeks so ultimately I'm really pleased with what they've done [and] the effort," he said. "We've gone 1-0 down, come to 1-1, saved the penalty, and the boys at the front showed a bit of guile and we got the goal."

The Dinos face the Alberta Golden Bears Sunday at the West Varsity Soccer Pitch on the UCalgary campus at 2:15 p.m., whle MacEwan heads down Crowchild Trail to face the Mount Royal University Cougars.

-UC-