OTTAWA – University of Calgary Dinos women's soccer coach Troye Flannery earned the program's first major national award since 2005 Wednesday, while defender Talia White and goalkeeper Lauren Houghton were each named to All-Canadian teams at the U SPORTS annual women's soccer awards.

The Dinos open the national championship tournament against the host Ottawa Gee-Gees Thursday night, with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. MT.

Flannery added another accolade to a growing list with his coach of the year award, becoming the first UCalgary women's soccer coach to earn the national recognition. It's also the first national award for the Dinos program since 2005, when Megan Gould won the student-athlete community service award.

Under the six-year tutelage of Flannery, the Dinos have become a relevant program in Canada West and on the national stage. 

After missing the playoffs five of the last six years before he took over, Flannery's Dinos have qualified for the postseason in each of his six seasons, earning top spot in the Prairie Division in both 2016 and 2018. This year's edition of the Dinos set Canada West records with 13 wins and 11 shutouts on the season, allowing just five goals in 14 games. 

It's the second such honour of the year for Flannery, who led his Calgary Foothills WFC team to the Western Conference championship and was named United Women's Soccer Coach of the Year this summer.

"Troye's leadership has taken the Dinos women's soccer program to the next level," said Dinos Director of Athletics Jason Kerswill. "He surrounds himself with quality people, he truly cares about his players, and he is an outstanding technical coach who led his team to its best-ever season in 2018. We congratulate him on this achievement and well-deserved recognition." 

White, meanwhile, becomes the eighth Dino to earn first team All-Canadian status, joining teammate Jordan Smith who was so honoured in 2016. Houghton, who set Canada West records with 11 clean sheets and 13 wins on the season, landed on the second All-Canadian team and joins former national team 'keeper Taryn Swiatek (2000, 2001) as the only Dinos backstops to earn All-Canadian status.

-UC-