Three-university tour has Dinos tied up

By Selnes and Bogle

Our lady soccersaurs traveled west to determine the final rankings in the Canada West division Oct 27-30. They played the University of Victoria Vikes, Trinity Western University Spartans and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. The results were mediocre.

Canada’s beautiful Vancouver Island wasn’t so pretty on Thursday, when our ladies strolled into a cold and windy affair with the Vikes. The weather seemed to keep both teams’ spirits dreary as the match ended scoreless. The meager amount of offense managed by both teams showed in the statistics, as each keeper only had to handle two shots on net. The Dinos’ best opportunity came when Danielle Harris fired a shot into the cross bar in the 24th minute. With the tie, the Dinos were left with a 6-2-6 record.

The offense tightened their sports bras and pulled up their socks in Saturday’s match, out-shooting the Spartans 10-3. But to the Dinos’ dismay, Trinity took the lead in the 44th minute when Andrea Standerwick picked up a pass to the left of the goal area and hammered it into the back of the Dinos’ net.

Although the Dinos put several shots on net, the TWU goalie was like a good condom; nothing got by her. After Harris sustained an unfortunate neck injury–which caused a 30-minute game delay–the Dinos wanted it bad. They put all their moves out on the field and were rewarded two minutes later with a quick score by Stephanie Hoogveld. Though the Spartans’ protection finally broke, the Dinos didn’t see many more opportunities and couldn’t find another way to penetrate the net. The ladies, again, finished satisfied, but looking for more with another 1-1 tie.

The Dinos walked onto the red-hot T-Birds’ home turf hoping to end UBC’s six-game winning streak. Reality didn’t follow suit; UBC scored the game’s lone goal late in the second half. The Dinos hoped to head into the playoffs on a winning note, but the T-Birds proved why they’re number one in the west.

Although the Dinos were winless on the weekend, they, as hosts, had already secured a spot in the CW playoffs. It’s do or die as the Dinos will no longer rely on their ability to tie and must win to move on. The Dinos match up against UBC Sat., Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m. on the West Varsity Pitch. The Vikes take on the Spartans at 11 a.m. The winners of each semi-final face-off Sun., Nov. 6 for the CW championship. Both teams advance to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championship in Edmonton the following weekend.