Olivia Krol; Dinos Communications
CALGARY – Midfielder Bori Falaye netted the game-winning goal after continued back-and-forth play to lead the University of Calgary men's soccer team past the University of Lethbridge 4-3 Sunday afternoon at West Varsity Soccer Pitch.
Calgary improved to 6-6-0 in the Dinos' final home game of regular season, while the Pronghorns dropped 2-10-2 in their last match of 2017.
Matthew Vandervoort made one save for the Pronghorns, as Colton Borle registered seven stops to pick up the win for Calgary.
Jorge Leon Gomez put the Dinos on board in the sixth minute, after Cristiano De Carvalho came out to challenge the Pronghorn defenders and passed the ball. Gomez then worked his way around the keeper and hit the net for the early advantage. This was likely the last game for Gomez on home turf, as he is completing his eligibility this season.
"It felt really good to play today and score," said Gomez. "It's been five long years with the Dinos. Today we got a bit overconfident, thinking we already have the W. We have to change this mentality in upcoming games."
Calgary registered the game's second goal in the 30th minute as Falaye tucked a shot just above Vandervoort, who could not keep the ball from crossing the line.
Calgary remained in control until the 44th minute, when Dominique Point du Jour was tripped up in the box and buried a penalty kick, minimizing the disadvantage with his fourth goal of the season.
Mike Weigle scored the equalizer for Lethbridge in the 49th minute. Rookie Ellis Davies moved the ball down the side and sent it to Weigle, who sent a strong shot into an empty net, making it 2-2.
The Dinos responded less than ten minutes later, in the 57th minute, when Dominik Zuczek scored his third goal for the season. Ty Werbicki worked the ball to Zuczek, who then found the back of the net after stealthily maneuvering around the keeper.
Calgary's advantage didn't last long though, as Andrew Primeau netted the equalizer for the Pronghorns late in the 62nd minute, after Point du Jour sent him a pass in the front. Primeau launched a shot into the left side of the net for his third season goal.
After several anxious minutes of play, Falaye netted the game winner in the 82nd minute. Following a foul on Calgary, Falaye gained the ball back on a feed from Zuczek, and tapped it neatly into the net.
The Dinos won the battle for shots, 16-12, as well as corner kicks, 9-2.
Despite the win, Head Coach Brendan O'Connell was unimpressed with the continued back-and-forth play of the game.
"I played some players who needed minutes, went against the grain, and it led us to a situation which we had to get ourselves out of," said O'Connell. "Looking forward to next week, if I put out my strongest eleven, they will give them a game."
Calgary wraps up Canada West play next weekend with a pair of games in Edmonton, beginning Saturday at Alberta, then Sunday at MacEwan as they look to solidify their positioning heading into the playoffs. With two wins, the Dinos would leapfrog Saskatchewan into second place in the Prairie Division and host a first-round playoff match-up.
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Photo by David Moll