CALGARY – Two goals less than two minutes apart in the second half helped the University of Calgary Dinos overcome a shaky start to defeat the Saskatchewan Huskies 2-1 Saturday night.
The win was the second of the weekend for the Dinos, while the Huskies dropped their second road game in as many nights.
It was the tale of two halves in the match, as coming off a loss to the Mount Royal Cougars yesterday afternoon, the Huskies came out with something to prove. They dominated the early part of the possession, and forced Dinos goalkeeper
Jake Ruschkowski to make a number of early saves to keep the score level.
The Huskies' early pressure eventually paid off, as a beautiful cross from Tobias Hyrich-Krueger found Ajani Fountaine in the middle of the box, and he calmly put it past a helpless Ruschkowki. Calgary was be unable to answer back before the halftime whistle, and the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Soccer is a tactical sport, and tonight the Dinos were able to show just how important both formation changes, and substitutions can be. While playing a slightly altered formation, along with two player substitutions, the Dinos struck first in the second half. Halftime sub
Jeff Spolnik made an immediate impact on the game, breaking free and sliding one into the back of the net, evening the score at 1-1.
Calgary would use the energy boost of their first goal to their full advantage, as less than two minutes later, leading goal scorer
Dominik Zuczek found himself streaking towards net, and place one past the Huskies goalkeeper with his left-foot. Suddenly the Dinos found themselves in control of the game, leading 2-1 after the 57th minute goal.
Saskatchewan worked hard to try and even the match, with forward Nikolas Baikas, who was a thorn in the side of the Dinos all night, hitting the crossbar off of a free kick late in the half. However, that was as close as the Huskies would get, and Calgary would hang on for the 2-1 win.
Zuczek, who leads the Dinos with three goals on the season, was quick to credit both the halftime adjustments, and his team's desire, for why they were able to turn the game around in the second half.
"I think it was some formation changes and coming out just hungry to win," said the third-year forward. "We showed that hunger this weekend, both in today's game, as well as yesterday's."
With the back-to-back wins, the Dinos' record now sits at 2-0-1 on the young season, while the tough Calgary road-trip causes the Huskies to fall to 1-2-1 after falling 2-0 to Mount Royal Saturday.
The Dinos will head north next weekend, for a set of games against the MacEwan Griffins and the Alberta Golden Bears on Sept. 7-8, while Saskatchewan visits Lethbridge Saturday.
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