ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – In a game of wild momentum swings, the Calgary Dinos landed the last haymaker, rallying for a 3-2 triumph over the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades at MRC Sports Complex on Friday evening.
Playing under a steady downpour didn't dampen the offences any, as
Eryk Kobza (2) and
Sam Gagne tallied for the visiting Dinos (4-2-0) and Atle Koellmel and Nawaf Binsaleh repled for the Cascades (1-3-3).
"It's never easy coming here and getting a result," Dinos head coach
Brendan O'Connell said afterward. "We showed a lot of character coming back from 2-1, a lot of resilience, and it could have gone either way. But in the end, I think we deserved it."
It was a nightmarish start for the Cascades, as the Dinos raced down the field after the opening kickoff and put the ball in the back of the net. Kobza did the honours, cutting into the middle from the right wing and unleashing a top-corner laser from well outside the 18-yard box.
The Cascades had a golden opportunity to equalize in the fifth minute, as Brady Weir was knocked to the turn on a dash into the box. Gurmaan Jhaj stepped to the penalty spot, but Dinos goalkeeper
Jake Ruschkowski came up with an incredible save diving to his left.
The hosts were undeterred, though, and Koellmel drew them level with his second goal of the campaign. He collected a pass from Trevor Zanatta at the top of the box and tucked a low shot inside the left post.
Weir was at it again in the 52nd minute, drawing a crowd – and a foul – in the box. Binsaleh took the PK this time, and he hammered a shot into the left side of the net.
Just three minutes later, the Dinos earned a PK of their own. UFV keeper Ethan Duggan dove to his right to parry
Cristiano De Carvalho's attempt, but Gagne was there to slot home the rebound.
Shortly thereafter, in the 62nd minute, Kobza restored the Dinos' lead, heading the ball home from close range on a scramble off a corner.
The Dinos wrap up their road swing with a Saturday game at Trinity Western (7:15 p.m.), while the Cascades host the Mount Royal Cougars on Sunday (1 p.m.).
