By Amanda Hu
The University of Calgary Dinos women’s soccer team sported a bittersweet, half-and-half weekend with a win and loss in Regina and Winnipeg Sep. 22 and 23.
Soccersaur Katie Blundell was a shining star of the first game against the Regina Cougars on Sat. She broke the scoring threshold for the match with her first goal at 20 minutes after some help towards the goal from teammate Saaraa Premji. She would score again later on in the game.
The game remained close throughout most of the first half as Regina’s Tiffany Gyuerk passed to Nakia Forsberg who made a winning shot. Though the Cougars attempted to gain a lead after evening up the score, Dino Morena Ianniello foiled their plans, making a 12-yard shot and putting her team back in the lead going into the half at 2-1.
Blundell’s second goal occurred at 64 minutes, securing the Dinos’ win at 3-1. Both Courtney Heffernan and Alana Knowles manned Calgary’s net during the game, making a total of four saves between the two of them, Heffernan with three and Knowles with one. Regina’s Alyssa McLaughlin also made a great four saves during the day’s match.
Sunday was a lively and energetic match for both the Dinos and Manitoba Bisons as they both fought hard for the win. The game started off with Ianniello scoring a quick corner kick into the net at 15 minutes. The lead was short-lived, as Bisons’ forward Caley Miskimmin took a successful shot at the 18-minute mark.
The Bisons led 2-1 going into halftime after a strong goal as Karli Colpitts headed a kick from Desiree Scott into the Dinos’ goal at 30 minutes. They maintained their strong lead throughout the second half after some teamwork from Stephanie Rurak and Colpitts made another successful shot at the 79th minute. The game came to an end as the score stood 3-1 for the Bisons.
Knowles made nine saves for the Dinos throughout the course of the game while the Bisons’ Ashley Forbes was only forced to make one.
The Canada West soccer season hits the midway point this weekend while the girlosauruses are currently tied with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at 3-3-0.
Taking two wins against Lethbridge in the upcoming matches could help the team solidify a spot in the championships.