After finishing the preseason with a 1-3-1 record, the Dinos women’s soccer team entered September still searching for its identity. A new group of players was learning how to play together, chemistry was still developing and there was plenty to clean up.
A month later, the picture looks a lot different.
The Dinos have won seven consecutive games, climbing to No. 3 in the Canada West rankings and establishing themselves as one of the conference’s teams to watch.
The seven-game run has been as impressive for its variety as for its consistency. The Dinos opened the streak with a 2-1 win over the Manitoba Bisons on Sept. 4, followed by a dominant 5-0 victory over them the very next day and then defeated the University of Alberta Pandas 2-1 on Sept. 11. The Dinos followed with a 2-0 win against the MacEwan Griffins on Sept. 13 and a 1-0 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Sept. 19. In the final few weeks of September, the Dinos had a commanding 5-0 victory over the University of Regina Cougars on Sept. 20, and finally a 1-0 win over Mount Royal University on Sept. 26.
Across those seven games, the Dinos outscored their opponents 18-2.
Finding their groove
The Dinos’ victory over the Griffins on Sept. 13 was a perfect example of where the team is at now.
From the opening whistle, the Dinos pushed the ball into the Griffins’ half and looked comfortable creating pressure. The Griffins caught the Dinos offside twice in the first four minutes, but the Dinos continued to find ways forward.
The match quickly became physical. Both teams accumulated fouls, and the Griffins’ aggression added another layer of intensity to the game. The Dinos stayed composed through the back-and-forth play, with the defensive line repeatedly cutting off Griffin attacks.
In net, third-year Cheridan Johnson was sharp from the very beginning. She made several important saves throughout the match, including a strong stop in the second half that helped preserve their clean sheet.
At minute 30, fifth-year midfielder Sofia DiGiacomo put the Dinos ahead, with third-year defender Rowyn James providing the assist, securing DiGiacomo’s second goal of the season.
The second half brought even more chances. Third-year forward Sarah Donick hit the crossbar, while DiGiacomo and other Dinos attackers continued to test the Griffins goalkeeper. The Dinos’ defence, meanwhile, kept the opposing team from turning their own attacking runs into goals.
“Fia always steps up in the big games and finds a way to score for us, and Donick was electric.” said Head Coach Diogo Raposo, highlighting both of the Dinos’ goal scorers after the game.
For Raposo, the performance was also evidence that the team is moving closer to the standard it has been working toward.
“We were still not the final product. We knew we needed to take a couple steps, and we were still cleaning up some things. We’re closer to who we want to be,” Raposo said.
More than one way to win
A defining feature of the Dinos women’s soccer team’s September run has been their ability to get results in very different ways.
The 5-0 victories over Manitoba and Regina showcased the Dinos’ offensive ceiling. The 1-0 wins against Saskatchewan and MRU demonstrated their ability to protect a narrow lead and keep opponents off the scoreboard.
The 2-1 results against Manitoba and the northern Alberta teams were closer contests, requiring the Dinos to respond to pressure and maintain their composure.
That balance has been important during a month in which the Dinos have faced different challenges from game to game.
A deepening attack
The Dinos’ offensive production has also been spread throughout the roster.
DiGiacomo currently leads the Dinos with four goals, while fifth-year forward Ella Djuranic follows with three goals. Donick has been one of the most active attacking players, recording 11 shots on goal during September. Her performance against the Griffins was a good illustration of that persistence: even after several chances were stopped, she continued to challenge the goalkeeper and eventually found a breakthrough.
Six Dinos were named Stars of the Week at different points throughout the month: fourth-year midfielder Kaleigh Major, second-year forward Addi White, James, DiGiacomo, Djuranic and fourth-year forward Erica Mysko.
The range of players receiving recognition reflects the number of contributors the team has had during its winning streak.
Growing together
For Donick, the results are especially meaningful because of how different the group looks compared to the beginning of the season.
“I feel like it’s so reassuring, and it’s honestly, like just so fulfilling because we did have such a new group and it took us a little bit to get chemistry together, but we’re learning every game,” Donick said.
Donick said the team's success has also given her another reason to keep pushing.
“I think it just gives me so much motivation and I want to show up for the team, show up for the girls and contribute more.” said Donick.
Looking ahead
September has moved the Dinos from a preseason record of 1-3-1 to a seven-game winning streak and a No. 3 Canada West ranking.
The Dinos are set to host the 2027 U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship, giving the team a major event to look forward to on home turf.
For now, though, the Dinos can look back on a month that changed the direction of their season.
Seven games. Seven wins. Six Stars of the Week. An 18-2 goal differential.
After spending the preseason learning what needed to change, the Dinos spent the last month showing what happens when those changes begin to come together.
