CALGARY – Coming off a pair of hard-fought setbacks last weekend, the University of Calgary Dinos will look to rebound at home as they host the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack and the UBC Thunderbirds in their first games at Dinosaur Field.

Both games begin at 2 p.m., with the Wolfpack in town on Saturday and the Thunderbirds on Sunday.

THE BIG RUSCHKOWSKI
Second-year goalkeeper Jake Ruschkowski has had a strong start to his 2018 season. The Calgary native gave the Dinos a chance to win both their matches last weekend making eight saves against the Alberta Golden Bears and six versus the McEwan Griffins. Ruschkowski has one clean sheet so far this season after posting four in his rookie campaign.

WELCOME HOME
After beginning the season on the familiar confines of West Varsity Soccer Pitch, the Dinos men's soccer team will play their first games this weekend at Dinosaur Field, formally known as Field 2. The Dinos women's team opened the new field last weekend playing their first two games of 2018. The men's squad is 1-1-0 during home games this season, losing their opening match 4-2 to the Saskatchewan Huskies before beating the Lethbridge Pronghorns 3-0.

WHO TO WATCH
Calgary native Leonardo Culina is the top scorer for the Dinos through four games this season. The third-year midfielder potted goals in back-to-back games to open the season, which still stand as his only two shots on goal. Dominik Zuczek has the most shots on goal for the Dinos, registering 13 attempts with one goal.

SCOUTING REPORT

vs THOMPSON RIVERS WOLFPACK
Match Info Saturday, Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. – Dinosaur Field
2018 Record 1-2-2, 4th in Pacific Division
2018 Leading Scorer(s) Mitchell Popadynetz (0g, 4a)

NOTES

• Thompson Rivers hosted last year's U SPORTS men's soccer championship where they won a bronze medal in penalty kicks over the UBC Thunderbirds. 
• The WolfPack received a wide range of votes in the conference's pre-season coaches poll, pegged anywhere from first to 10th by the coaches.
• Though he is yet to register a goal in 2018, Mitchell Popadynetz is one of the top scorers in Canada West, tying for the conference-led with 17 points (7g, 10a) last season.

vs UBC THUNDERBIRDS
Match Info Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. – Dinosaur Field
2018 Record 3-0-1, 1st in Pacific Division
2018 Leading Scorer(s) Caleb Clarke (2g, 2a)

NOTES

• The Thunderbirds are the defending Canada West champions after defeating the Trinity Western Spartans in double-overtime last year.
• After earning a draw in their season opener, UBC has now won three straight games while scoring eight goals in the process.
• Fourth-year goalkeeper Jason Roberts has only conceded two goals through four conference contests in 2018.

UP NEXT

The Dinos are back on the road next weekend as they visit Vancouver Island to face the Victoria Vikes on Friday, Sept. 21, followed by a trip to Prince George, BC to take on the UNBC Timberwolves on Sunday, Sept. 23.

-UC-