Unstoppable in October
With five games played so far in October, the Dinos women’s soccer team remains undefeated this month, extending their winning streak to 12 consecutive games and climbing to first place in the Canada West standings.
The Dinos have outscored their opponents 13–1 this month and 31–3 in the season so far. The month’s winning run included a dominant 5–0 victory over the University of Regina Cougars on Oct. 2, a 2–0 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Oct. 5, a 2–1 victory over the Mount Royal University Cougars on Oct. 9 and back-to-back victories over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, including a 3–0 win on Oct. 15 and a 1–0 Senior Night victory on Oct. 16.
A senior night to remember
The Dinos closed out their season finale at home in style on Oct. 16, earning a 1–0 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns while celebrating five graduating seniors: forwards Erica Mysko, Ella Djuranic, defenders Mykena Walker, Jaden Tomaszewski and Sofia DiGiacomo. All five seniors took the field for the special night.
The Dinos dictated the pace throughout the game, creating numerous scoring opportunities and keeping the pressure high on the Pronghorns. The breakthrough came at minute 27 when Mysko capitalized on a loose ball in the box and sent it past the goalkeeper for her fifth goal of the season.
Despite the Dinos continued attacking pressure after halftime, the Pronghorns’ goalkeeper, third-year Heidi Andres, kept the score close with a series of saves. First-year keeper Nicki Filek was equally dependable for the Dinos, making a key stop in the second half to preserve the shutout and secure her second clean sheet of the season.
Making noise on the national stage
The Dinos’ success has also translated to the national rankings, with the Dinos sitting at No. 4 in the U Sports Top 10 while leading the Canada West standings.
The players’ strong performances have also earned individual recognition, with Tomaszewski, second-year forward Addi White, Djuranic, DiGiacomo and Walker named “Dinos Stars of the Week”.
As a team, the Dinos have found the back of the net 31 times this season while surrendering only three goals. That combination of attacking production and defensive consistency has helped establish the Dinos as a team to watch heading into the postseason.
The road ahead
The Dinos have two more regular season matchups remaining, traveling to face the MacEwan Griffins on Oct. 24 before taking on the University of Alberta Pandas on Oct. 25.
With a 12-game winning streak and an undefeated conference record, the Dinos will look to carry their momentum into the postseason. The Dinos are on track to host a playoff matchup against the fourth-place team from the Pacific Division. That spot is currently held by the University of Victoria Vikes.
A win would give the Dinos the opportunity to host the Canada West Final Four on Nov. 5 and 6, bringing the conference championship within reach on home turf.
