CALGARY – The MacEwan Griffins scored a goal early in each half and held off a Calgary Dinos comeback effort for a 3-1 win Sunday afternoon from Dinosaur Field.
With the win, the Griffins improve to 2-2 on the young season, while the Dinos are still looking for their first win of the year and fall to 0-3-1.
MacEwan got on the board first in the ninth minute. Rakan Yassin sent an in-swinging ball from midfield to the top of the 18-yard box, finding a streaking Ali Yildiz. The midfielder got a foot to the ball in the air and his volley rocketed into the back of the net to make it 1-0 early.
Early in the second, it was Yassin getting on the board to make it 2-0. Chance Carter collected the ball at midfield and drove right down the middle of the field. Carter played a perfect angled through ball to a streaking Yassin, who slide and just got the ball past the oncoming
Liam Hunter for his first of the year in the 51st minute Sunday.
The Dinos answered back midway through the second half when
Derek Brust netted his second of the year. Brust collected a pass from
Dominic Anamali – who had just subbed on – right at the top of the box. The fifth-year forward took a touch before calmly burying the ball into the side netting to draw Calgary back to within one at 2-1 in the 74th minute.
Calgary nearly equalized in the waning minutes of regulation. After earning a corner, the ball fell to the feet of
Joey Plenzik, who fired off a shot that got through the crowded box, but Marko Ilich was right there for the big save.
With the Dinos pushing, the Griffins added an insurance goal late. Felix Guite was one-on-one with the keeper following a nice feed from Philip Masri and Guite made no mistake for his first of the year to close things out.
Calgary finished with a 15-9 in edge on shots, including 7-6 in shots on goal. Marko Ilich made six saves in the win for MacEwan, while
Liam Hunter added three saves in the loss.
The Dinos continue their four-game homestand next weekend, hosting Trinity Western on Saturday and UNBC on Sunday. Both games are part of doubleheaders with the women's team and are scheduled to kick off at 2:15 p.m. from Dinosaur Field.
Meanwhile, the Griffins will return to Edmonton to host UBC and Thompson Rivers next Saturday and Sunday.
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