By Russ Dyck
Classes were back in session Mon., Sept. 8, but long before we began filling the cheap, plastic lecture hall seats, the Dinos women’s soccer team was selected and anxiously awaiting the start of the 2003/04 season.
Before we look forward to the upcoming season, let’s take a moment to reflect on the 2002/03 campaign.
The Dinos made it to the Canada West final against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. Their hopes of making nationals came down to a shootout which the Thunderbirds won, smashing those hopes before eventually winning the national title themselves.
A good portion of the core players graduated last year, giving this year’s team the same number of rookies as third, fourth and fifth year players combined. So many rookies could lead to a less-than-successful season, but with nine years under his belt, Head Coach Robin Slot knows what is in the best interest of the team.
"If we are healthy and stay focused on the game plan decided on, we should make Canada West playoffs," predicts Slot.
Not all is lost however, as the team can still rely on the strong group of returning players. The veterans anchoring the squad include Stephanie Bourigault, Megan Dourado, Erin Ramsay and the globe-trotting sparkplug Jessica Horning, fresh off an appearance at the 2003 Summer Universiade in South Korea, where she proudly represented Canada.
The 2003/04 Dinos will travel to Edmonton Fri., Sept. 12, where they will face the University of Alberta Pandas before motoring over to Saskatoon to combat the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Sun., Sept. 14. Their home opener is against Lethbridge on Sat., Sept. 20.
All women’s soccer home games are played at noon at Foothills Athletic Park. Admission is free for University of Calgary students.