CALGARY – On the first day of Canada West competition in over 500 days, the reigning conference champion University of Calgary Dinos opened the 2021 season with a 3-0 win over the crosstown rival Mount Royal University Cougars on Saturday afternoon at MRU Stadium Field.

In their first game since the national championship final in 2019, the Dinos got goals from returning stars Montana Leonard, Rachel Barlow, and Amy Mikuska. Leonard led the way with the opening goal in the 16th minute and an assist in the second half.

"It is good to get that one out of the way I thought we did some good things going forward when we did. We certainly switched off for large moments and we have to address that in training," said Dinos head coach Troye Flannery. "It is always tough to play your local rival. We scored a couple of great goals, Amy's was a bit fortunate, but they are difficult to play against and they bite on everything.

"We created some chances, arguably should have scored a few more, but we are going in the right direction."

Leading 1-0 at the half, the Dinos had to wait until the 69th minute to find an insurance goal as Barlow put away a well-placed header. Mikuska rounded out the scoring with less than 10 minutes remaining as a shot eluded Cougars goalkeeper Katrina Greenley and snuck through her legs.

Calgary outshot Mount Royal 20-6, forcing Greenley to make nine saves. At the other end of the field, Lauren Houghton was a stable force when called upon and made four stops on the day.

The Dinos travel north next weekend for a pair of games in Edmonton. They will start with a matchup against the Alberta Pandas on Saturday, Sept. 11, followed by a playoff rematch with the MacEwan Griffins on Sunday, Sept. 12.

Next weekend the Cougars face off against the Lethbridge Pronghorns at home.