CALGARY – After a split on the B.C. road trip, the University of Calgary Dinos are back at home and set to face off against the Mount Royal University Cougars in Crowchild Classic action. 

The home-and-home series will begin at Mount Royal on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., followed by the Dinos hosting the Cougars on the UCalgary campus on Sunday at 2:15 p.m.

THE ULTIMATE CROSSTOWN SMACKDOWN
The Crowchild Classic always makes for intense competition, but especially in soccer where there is a tightknit community in Calgary and players are familiar with each other. Last season, the Dinos dropped their first meeting with the Cougars 2-1 before rebounding for a 3-0 win in their rematch. Entering this year's competition, the Dinos men's soccer team leads the series with an impressive record of 7-2-3.

STANDING IMPLICATIONS
Not only is this weekend about a rivalry, the Dinos and Cougars are also playing for positioning in the Prairie Division. Both teams have identical 3-5-0 records and are tied for third in the Prairie Division. The MacEwan Griffins have a one-point lead on second place with a 3-5-1 record, while the Alberta Golden Bears sit in first comfortably at 7-0-2. 

WHO TO WATCH
After scoring his first goal of the season in the Dinos' last home game, Derek Brust is beginning to heat up. During their 2-1 win over Victoria last Friday night, Brust scored the tying goal and setup the game-winner nine minutes apart. The first-year forward is tied with Leonardo Culina for the team-lead in goals with two.

SCOUTING REPORT 

vs MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS 
Match Info Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1:30 p.m. – Mount Royal; Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2:15 p.m. – University of Calgary
2018 Record 3-5-0, 4th in Prairie Division 
2018 Leading Scorer(s) Moe El Gandour (2g, 3a)

NOTES

• Mount Royal earned the final playoff spot in the Prairie division last year, falling in the Canada West Quarter-finals to the UBC Thunderbirds in double-overtime.
• After sweeping their opening weekend this season, the Cougars have won one of their last six games. 
• Mount Royal struggled on the road last weekend, losing 1-0 to UBC before being thumped 4-0 by Thompson Rivers.
• Moe El Gandour, Tysen Chatani and Orest Ndabaneze have each scored two goals this season.
• The Cougars will play three of their next four games at home, where they hold a 3-1 record. They are winless in four road games.

UP NEXT 
The Dinos will stay in town following the Thanksgiving weekend as they host the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday, Oct. 13 and the Alberta Golden Bears on Sunday, Oct. 14.