CALGARY – After a historic season, the University of Calgary Dinos men's soccer team will head to Montreal, where they will take part in the first ever U SPORTS men's soccer championship in team history, after taking home the Canada West silver medal last weekend in Vancouver.

Calgary's road to their first ever U SPORTS championship will begin on Thursday when they take on the AUS champions and the No. 2-ranked team in the country, the Cape Breton Capers. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. MT on USPORTS.live.

A SEASON OF FIRSTS
It was a season for the record books, as along with the first ever trip to nationals, the Dinos upended Trinity Western on their fifth straight try in the playoffs and also won the first ever semi-final matchup between the two Calgary squads when they defeated Mount Royal. The Dinos will hope the run of firsts can continue, and they can take home their first ever U SPORTS trophy.

THE WAITING GAME
While a few of the Dinos have been waiting five years for this opportunity, one Dino has been waiting much longer. Gord Franson has been the team's manager for an incredible 33 years, and for the first time ever will get to watch his team on the national stage. 

STANDING TALL
There probably would not be many arguments from the players on who has been the team MVP this season. Goalkeeper Jake Ruschkowski has played every single minute for the Dinos, earning himself a first-team Canada West nod. Ruschkowski made 10 saves in the Canada West final, and if the underdog Dinos are to have any chance at making a run in Montreal, they will need him to keep up his superb play. 

TIMELY SCORING
Senior Mark Bohdan only has two goals on the season, but they are the two biggest goals of Calgary's season. He scored the game winners in both the quarter- and semifinals, and the Dinos will hope he has a few more timely game-winners up his sleeve. 

SCOUTING REPORT
vs. CAPE BRETON CAPERS
Match Info: Thursday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. MT Montreal, Que.
2019 Record: 10-0-2, AUS Champions 
2019 Leading Scorer(s): Charlie Waters (10g, 6a)

NOTES
Cape Breton Capers
•    Led the AUS in goal differential by scoring 39 goals on the season while giving up only nine 

Montreal Carabins
•    The defending U SPORTS champions will now get to try and win a second consecutive title in front of their home fans 

Carleton Ravens
•    Carleton's leading goal scorer Stefan Karajovanovic, who had eight goals this year, comes into the championship red hot, scoring a hat-trick in the OUA final

UQTR Patriotes
•    The Patriotes are a very tough team defensively, giving up just 0.91 goals per game thanks in part to having a top goalkeeper, Félix Clapin-Girard, who had five clean sheets this season

StFX X-Men
•    It is the X-Men's first time being back to the U SPORTS championship since 1997 after finishing second overall in the AUS with a record of 9-2-1, eventually losing to Cape Breton in the AUS final

York Lions
•    York was undefeated in the regular season, finishing with an 11-0-3 record, and extending their unbeaten streak against OUA opponents to 50 games until they lost to Carleton in the OUA final

-UC-