CALGARY – Efe Udolu-Joshua scored twice as the University of Calgary Dinos men's soccer team defeated the Victoria Vikes 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.

The result keeps Calgary on top of the Canada West's Prairie Division at 7-2-0, while Victoria drops to 6-1-2 after suffering its first loss of the season.

The Vikes struck first in the eighth minute off a corner kick, with Yassin Guitouni getting the final touch to open the scoring.

Calgary responded in the 22nd. A long pass deflected off a defender and landed with Kimia Kassanda, whose initial shot was blocked. Kassanda collected the rebound and fed Udolu-Joshua in front for the equalizer.

In the 33rd minute, William Omoreniye played a long ball forward that Udolu-Joshua controlled and finished from close range past an onrushing goalkeeper, giving the Dinos a 2-1 lead.

"I saw the ball following up, a rebound, and sent the keeper the wrong way for the first goal," Udolu-Joshua said. "For the second, I found some space, ran behind the keeper and tapped it in. The chances came, and I just took my chances today."

Victoria nearly tied it in the 35th, but Ole Cameron was denied by a diving stop from Calgary goalkeeper Hany Shafie.

The Dinos carried much of the play after halftime. Soliman Aria tested Victoria keeper Callum Weir early, while Calgary's defence held firm against late Vikes pressure to close out the win.

"It's the best I've seen the team play all year," Dinos head coach Ramon Mifflin said. "Great to hold onto first place in our division and win against an undefeated team."

Calgary travels to Edmonton on Sept. 27 to face Alberta. Victoria returns home to host the UBC Okanagan Heat the same day at Centennial Stadium.

-UC-