CALGARY – On a less-than-pleasant evening on Dinosaur Field, the University of Calgary Dinos bounced back from their season-opening defeat in a major way, topping the Lethbridge Pronghorns by a score of 2-0.
The victory put the Dinos in the win column for the first time this season, leveling their record at 1-1-0. Meanwhile, the Pronghorns are still looking for their first win of the season, as their record drops to 0-2-1.
It took just over 135 minutes for Calgary to score their opening goal of the season, but very early in the second half the Dinos would finally break through. An intricate passing play off a throw-in between
Derek Brust and
Dondre Bailey, led to a beautiful cross from Bailey, which
Dominik Zuczek would head home past the keeper.
Zuczek was far from done, as midway through the half in the 63rd minute, he took a beautiful through ball down the field, cut back to the center of the box, and drilled one into the back of the net.
The Dinos controlled the majority of the game, outshooting Lethbridge 17-7 in the match. Fifth-year defenders
Cristiano De Carvalho and
Mark Bohdan were rock solid at the back, thwarting most of the Pronghorn attacks.
Dinos goalkeeper
Jake Ruschkowski was not overly busy during the match, as the Pronghorns only managed two shots on net. However, when he was tested, he was up to the test, earning his first clean sheet of the season.
Lethbridge showed no quit in the game, as their best scoring opportunity came in the 80th minute on a beautiful one touch shot from James Braid, which forced Ruschkowski to make a diving stop.
Dinos head coach
Brendan O'Connell was extremely proud with how his team responded, and cited that last weekend's defeat as one of the key reasons for tonight's win.
"We were all up for today's game, simply because of the disappointment of [last] weekend," said the fifth-year bench boss. "Really pleased with the way we played. We got our chances, and we took them."
The Dinos will look to keep the momentum from this win going, as they host the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday at 6 p.m.
Lethbridge will also be right back at it tomorrow, staying in the city of Calgary, and heading over to play the Mount Royal Cougars at 4 p.m.
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