CALGARY – A well-played, two-goal first half set the tone as the University of Calgary Dinos opened their weekend with an emphatic 3-0 win over the Fraser Valley Cascades Friday afternoon on Dinosaur Field.
Sienna Prince-McPherson scored twice while
Taylor Dangerfield scored the eventual game-winner as the Dinos improved to 7-0-2 on the season, extending their unbeaten string to 22 matches in conference play. UFV falls to 2-3-4 with the setback.
"I thought the first 45 minutes was our best performance of the season," said Dinos Head Coach
Troye Flannery. "I'm proud of our team – (Fraser Valley) is a difficult team to play against. They're well-coached, they compete for every blade of grass."
The Dinos were dominant in the opening half, out-shooting the Cascades by a 13-3 margin in the opening 45 and forcing UFV 'keeper Joven Sandhu into five saves. But the Dinos still managed to get two past her: Dangerfield's marker opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and Prince-McPherson put her first of the season to the goal in the 45th as the Dinos took a 2-0 lead into the half.
The Cascades came back with Andrea Perkovic in goal for the second half and took some initiative up front, outshooting the Dinos 5-3. But it was Calgary that managed the lone goal of the final 45, with Prince-McPherson extending the lead to three goals with her unassisted tally in the 74th.
"Sienna is so special on the ball," said Flannery. "She calms us down, and wouldn't allow us to get frantic when she was in possession. She worked hard and was rewarded with a couple of goals."
Lauren Houghton made four saves to post her conference-leading sixth clean sheet of the season in the Calgary goal.
Up next, the Cascades head north and west to Prince George, B.C. for a Sunday contest against the UNBC Timberwolves. The Dinos remain home Sunday as they get set to welcome the Pacific Division-leading, No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans in a rematch of the 2018 Canada West championship. That match kicks off at 12 p.m. on Dinosaur Field.
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