CALGARY –The University of Calgary Dinos men's soccer team will kick off the 2023 Canada West campaign on Sunday with a showdown against the crosstown rival Mount Royal Cougars.

Sunday's action is scheduled to get underway at 2:15 p.m. at Dinosaur Field, following the conclusion of the Dinos women's game against Winnipeg.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

LOOKING BACK AT LAST SEASON – Calgary got hot at the right time last season, finishing the regular season with three consecutive wins to wrap up the conference slate with a 6-5-3 record. The win streak stretched to five as the Dinos won their Canada West quarter-final and semifinal games on the road before falling in a shootout in the ultimate nail-biter of a conference championship game.

COACH O'CONNELL – Head coach Brendan O'Connell enters his ninth season at the helm of the Dinos. O'Connell has led Calgary to postseason play every year, finishing as Canada West silver medallists in two of the last three seasons. He also helped the Scarlet & Gold earn a berth to nationals in 2019.

A PEAK AT THE POLLS – Canada West released the 2023 preseason poll Thursday, with the Dinos being viewed once again as a postseason squad coming into the year. Calgary was voted sixth in the 13-team league.

GOING PRO – For the second straight summer, the Dinos saw one of their own sign a professional contract to play at the next level right here in Canada. After an impressive start on his U SPORTS development contract with Calgary Cavalry FC, Kobza earned a multi-year deal with the CPL squad, keeping him in Calgary until at least 2025.

FOR STARTERS – Calgary enters its 44th season Sunday and will look to draw back close to .500 in season openers, entering this year's contest with an 18-20-5 mark in lid lifters. The team is 2-4-1 in openers under head coach Brendan O'Connell, including an exciting 2-2 draw with Mount Royal in 2021 – the last time the Dinos opened the year at home.

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