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University of Calgary Athletics

Isabella Burtini, goal, celebration, team, win
Sandi Huynh
0
UBC Okanagan UBCO (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
1
Winner Calgary CGY (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UBC Okanagan UBCO 0 0 0
Calgary CGY 1 0 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Chiara Raguso; Dinos Communications

Final Four bound: Dinos down UBCO, will now host medal games at McMahon

CALGARY – Canada West All-Rookie selection Isabella Burtini sent the Calgary Dinos women's soccer team to the Canada West Final Four after a 1-0 win over the UBCO Heat Friday evening from Dinosaur Field.

With the win in Friday's quarterfinals, the Dinos now will host the Canada West Final Four at McMahon Stadium Nov. 1-2. 

"This is a good feeling, because I was very nervous coming into this game," Burtini said postgame. "I needed to do my job and press, and we worked hard on cutting across the crease all week, so I knew I needed to get there, and it paid off. 

"For myself, I want to be the best I can be – press everything and make all my tackles. As for the team, I think we need to work hard and buckle down. We know it's going to be a tough week of training, but the reward will be there, and we hope we can make it to nationals." 

It was a back-and-forth first half, but it was the Dinos who broke through first in the 29th minute. Burtini played a ball to Rachel Barlow down the right sideline. The senior carried toward the corner before cutting inward on a nice move and returning the ball to Burtini, who headed the ball near post in what proved to be the lone goal of the game.

UBCO turned up the pressure, trying to immediately respond as Annika Gross had a go from distance that had some zing to it, but Dinos keeper Katie French was well positioned for one of her three saves on the day.

In the second half, the Dinos dominated possession, but the Heat did well in limiting the highest-scoring team in all of U SPORTS. Calgary finished the game with a 15-8 edge in shots – including an 8-2 performance in the second half – but UBCO's defence would not concede again. 

Third-year goalie Talia Gagnon finished the afternoon making six saves.

"This is a tough one to take," UBCO head coach Craig Smith said after the game. "We were up against a very good team and fair enough to them, they won, so I congratulate them. I'm so delighted with my players, and you know coaches don't win games, players do, and they showed so much courage. They're the gift that keeps on giving for me and they're such a special group."

The Heat finish the year with a 7-7-4 overall record after going 6-5-3 in conference play to earn the No. 4 seed in the Pacific Division.

For more information about game times and ticket information, visit GoDinos.com for the most up-to-date information.

-UC-
 
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