EDMONTON – Ella Djuranic scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season to help lead the University of Calgary Dinos women's soccer team past the host Alberta Pandas 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.

The win maintains the Dinos perfect 4-0 start to the 2023 campaign, and they were dominant all afternoon. They outshot the Pandas 20-12 (6-5 on target) and held possession for large swaths of the contest. Both goalies made 5 saves a piece, but Calgary keeper Katie French held on for her CW-leading third clean sheet on the young season.

The Pandas drop to 1-2-2 with the loss, good for 3rd in the Prairie Division as of Saturday afternoon.

The Dinos were impressive right off the opening whistle, pressuring Alberta's back four getting off nine shots – four on target – in the first twenty minutes of the game. Isabella DiPalma was the engine for the visitors, recording three shots on target in the first half.

The Pandas were able to find their most dangerous chance on either side near the end of the half with Adrienne Poulin finding the post on a breakaway set up by a beautiful clearing ball from Kellie Haffe.

Shortly after, Djuranic found the back of the net on a beautiful curling attempt from outside the box. She was played a good ball to her feet by Brooklyn Colvin, and after a quick turn was able to beat Autumn Wynn for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Dinos went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

The second half would see both sides put on offensive pressure but would ultimately end scoreless. The Pandas would try several different tactics, including a formation change, to try to break the Calgary back four but it was fruitless as the Canada West-leading defence held strong all afternoon. Mykena Walker and Colvin were particularly impressive, shuttling away dangerous opportunities before the Pandas attack could capitalize. Poulin was the offensive driver for the Pandas, recording three shots and creating some dangerous opportunities in the Calgary end.

The Pandas return to action tomorrow with a home contest against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, while the Dinos head across the river to take on the undefeated MacEwan Griffins.

-UC-