CALGARY – Coming off one of the most historic seasons in program history in 2019, the University of Calgary Dinos men's soccer team begins 2021 with a pair of matches against the Mount Royal Cougars.

Both games will take place at Dinosaur Field with 7:15 p.m. starts on Friday and Saturday night.

REMEMBER ME?
The Dinos and Cougars are more than just geographic rivals after 2019. The last time these two sides met was in Vancouver at the Canada West Final Four where Calgary ended Mount Royal's season with a thrilling 2-1 win in the semifinal. The victory sent the Dinos to their first-ever national championship.

TASTE OF EUROPE
While most of the returning athletes in Canada West will be shaking off the rust early in the 2021 season, Eryk Kobza is one of the exceptions. The reigning Dinos male rookie of the year found playing time overseas last fall in Poland, all while continuing his education, playing professionally for Sokol Ostroda and Podlasie Biala Podlaska. Kobza was a key contributor for the Dinos in 2019, leading the team in assists in points.

BULLETIN BOARD MATERIAL
Despite reaching the conference championship and earning a spot at national in 2019, the Dinos have been ranked seventh in the Canada West preseason coaches poll. This weekend offers the Dinos an opportunity to make a statement, facing a Mount Royal team that was ranked second in the same poll.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs. MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS
Match Info Friday, Sept. 24 at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 25 at 7:15 p.m.
20219 Record 9-4-1, 1st in Prairie Division
2021 Leading Scorer Dane Domic (6g, 8a)

NOTES
•    The Cougars kicked off their 2021 Canada West schedule on Sept. 18 with a 1-0 victory against the Lethbridge Pronghorns on the road.
•    Third-year forward David Schaefer scored the Cougar's lone goal against Lethbridge and his third career goal for Mount Royal. 
•    The Dinos have an all-time record of 10-3-4 against the Cougars, who finished the 2019 season with the best record in the old Prairie Division.

UP NEXT
The Dinos are back in action next weekend with a home-and-home set versus Lethbridge, Oct. 2-3. The Cougars will also split home and road games next weekend, playing the Alberta Golden Bears.