Dan Khavkin, Cougar Athletics
CALGARY-Mount Royal Cougars hosted round two of the Crowchild Classic against bitter rivals University of Calgary Dinos.
The visiting Dinos got revenge and picked up a 3-0 victory against the Cougars Sunday afternoon.
These two crosstown rivals started the game with immense game speed and intensity, entertaining the capacity crowd at Cougar Stadium Field.
MRU started the game on the front foot, forcing Calgary to play with their backs against the wall during the first half.
The Dinos who got on the board first after starting to build their own momentum in the latter portion of the half broke a back-and-forth deadlock.
Jared Fillo slid a driven ball on the ground to an unmarked Mark Bohdan who placed himself in the middle of the Cougars box and hit the ball when as the chance came to him.
Keeper Kyran Valley got a palm on the highly placed shot, but it wasn't enough to tip over the net as the ball caught the roof of the goal.
The Cougars almost responded with a goal of their own in the 31st minute.
A smooth breakout and total control inside the Dino half resulted in a golden opportunity for Noah Ratushny who unloaded a shot from inside the box, but the attempt struck the top of the goal-post and bounced out.
This proved to be a turning point in the game, as MRU couldn't muster any other chances as close as that one all game.
Calgary doubled their lead in the 43rd minute thanks to a patient Fillo.
The midfielder found a pocket of open space inside the Cougars box and roofed the ball into the top corner to put his side up 2-0 heading into halftime.
Cougars started the half on a reversing end, being constantly pressed and had to adapt to the Dinos patient possession game.
Valley was tested in the early portions of the half, catching a lot of attempted crosses and blocking a handful of threatening chances inside box.
With MRU playing with their backs against the wall, Calgary capitalized on the sitting defence.
Ty Werbicki slotted the ball past Valley after receiving a pin-point pass from Bori Falaye in the 71st minute to secure the Dinos their three points.
Dino keeper Jake Ruschkowski picks up his second clean sheet in the process, making the saves he had to be at attention for.
MRU drop to 3-4-3 on the season while the Dinos snap their three games losing streak and bump their record up to 4-6-0 on the season.
MRU travel host Lethbridge and then Saskatchewan on October 14th and 15th with kickoff scheduled for 1:30 both games.
Calgary makes the trip to Saskatoon and plays the Huskies on October 14th and then Lethbridge on the 15th with both games ready for 2:15 pm.