By Rob South
A soaked, muddy field and a trail of bad luck longer than Highway 62 could not stop the Men’s soccer team from winning their first game of the season. Using their long ball game to compensate for poor conditions, the University of Calgary Dinos put Saskatchewan in their place with a 3-0 beating.
Rookie Brian Newmarch, team leader Conrad Chala and stalwart Graeme Mclennan each hammered one home for the Dinos. At the other end of the field, keeper Mike Willis recorded his first shutout of the season.
"It was a solid, confident win," said Chala. "Really, really positive."
The same quotation could be used to describe Newmarch’s contribution to the team this season. Coming from Henry Wise Wood High School, the true rookie has made a big impact in his first year-his four goals have put him second in the league’s scoring race.
"I just play my part, and everybody on the team contributes," said Newmarch.
After playing for Foothills in Calgary’s Under-19 league, he spent last winter playing for the Dinos’ club team, making the transition to varsity soccer relatively easy.
"He does not have an ego, that’s the big thing," noted Chala. "He has an open mind, he knows that as a rookie he has a lot to learn. He fits in great."
Apparently, on the exhibition road trip to Victoria, the team ensured that Newmarch fit in by putting him and the other rookies through their own version of the ‘Olympics.’ No deals of these games were revealed to ensure that future rookies do not know what to expect, but Newmarch insists a good time was had by all.
Away from the field, he is enjoying his first year on campus, and is planning to enter the faculty of management. Newmarch has no plans for the future beyond school, except to ensure revenge on the University of Alberta for a defeat suffered Sunday.
"I really hope we get them in the first round."
In a very physical game, the men lost 1-0 because of a questionable non-call and a goal in the last five minutes. The questionable non-call: when Dinos striker Rajiv Mathur was pulled down by the Golden Bears’ last defender, who received only a yellow card instead of the mandatory red. The last minute goal: a quick counter-attack from the U of A as the Dinos were pressing for a winner of their own.
According to Chala, "A fair result would have been a tie."
To help ensure the team will make the playoffs and a rematch with the U of A, they have to win in Lethbridge this weekend. The Dinos face the additional challenge of being without Chala (three yellow cards), Defender Eddy Bardana (injured) and the versatile J.P. Khouri (injured).