Griffins can't find equalizer after early set piece goal against, fall 1-0 in intense battle vs. Calgary
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 0 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 1 |
Team Stats
Calgary
| Game Statistics | MacEwan University | Calgary |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 4 (2) | 12 (6) |
| Saves | 5 | 2 |
| Fouls | 11 | 10 |
| Corner Kicks | 2 | 8 |
| Offsides | 3 | 4 |
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
-with files from Dinos Athletics
CALGARY – lt was the type of game with intensity befitting of a playoff match not the third game of the regular season, which doesn't surprise anyone when the heated rivalry between the MacEwan Griffins and Calgary Dinos women's soccer teams is on.
As such, the victory usually goes to the team that scores first, which is exactly what happened when the Dinos rode a 24th-minute set piece goal by Addi White to a 1-0 triumph on Saturday.
"Give credit to Calgary," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "They played a good game today. It was a battle back and forth, for sure.
"We pushed them until the end but just couldn't break free. It was like a playoff game. It usually is when we play them."
Entering play, both teams were among just four left in Canada West who'd garnered full points in their slate to date, but the Griffins were dropped from those ranks with a loss and are now 2-1-0. Calgary (3-0-0), atop the Prairie Division, and UBC (5-0-0) are the only ones left.
While the Griffins have yet to concede a goal in the run of play this season, it's the third-straight match they've been burned by a set piece – Aug. 29 off a Manitoba corner kick, Aug. 30 off a Manitoba free kick, and White's goal on the second phase of a corner on Saturday.
Aislin Phillips' corner was initially cleared by MacEwan's defence, but it fell at the feet of the rookie White, who uncorked a shot from 28 yards out that just beat Sabrina Alexander's outstretched save attempt.
"I'm happy that we didn't concede in the run of play for the third-straight game, but unhappy that they scored on the second phase off a corner," said Cordeiro. "Ball ricocheted out. We couldn't close out in time and the girl banged it home. Great finish, but again off a corner. In the run of play, we looked good and didn't give them much.
"We've got to clean up the corners. In the Manitoba games, it didn't hurt us, but today it was the difference in the game."
MacEwan nearly equalized just before halftime as Raeghan McCarthy, bidding for her fourth of the season, broke free in the 44th minute, but Calgary goalkeeper Anna Demarbre stood tall, making a critical save to keep the Dinos in front.
Cordeiro gave his player of the game award to fullback Anneke Odinga – the three-time Canada West first team all-star – again a difference-maker for the Griffins.
"She was a rock defensively," said Cordeiro. "She really stymied a lot of their attacks and then was starting to break free and create a lot of offence between zones 2 and 3.
"It was a tightly-contested game with very little to be offered, so Annie was one who was able to break free and make some things happen."
Alexander finished with five saves for MacEwan, while Demarbre stopped two for Calgary.
A total of seven yellow cards were assessed in the contest, four of them on the Griffins.
MacEwan will stay in Calgary on Sunday as they visit another undefeated team, the Mount Royal Cougars (2-0-1), whose 1-1 draw with Alberta on Saturday pushed them a point ahead of the Griffins for second in the Prairie Division. Game time is 1 p.m. (Canada West TV).
"They were one goal better than us today," said Cordeiro. "We'll make sure we use that as a learning moment and make sure we're ready to go for tomorrow. This team always responds and I'm excited about that.
"We'll be ready to go tomorrow, and we'll be ready to play U of C here in the coming weeks when we see them at home (Sept. 21)."
