Defending champs drop season-opener

EDMONTON - Snapping a 14-game home unbeaten streak, the No.3 University of Alberta Pandas were upset by their perennial provincial rivals, the University of Calgary Dinos using a quick start to pave their way to a 2-0 decision, Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.

Sophomore midfielder Maddie Lee and third-year midfielder Lauren Vernon found the net for the Dinos while second-year 'keeper Samantha Chang-Foidl kept one of last season's best offences at bay with four saves in her shutout performance.

Senior netminder Kelti Biggs made seven saves in the loss.

With the game less than two minutes old, third-year forward Amy Hockings lobbed a cross into the Alberta crease, Biggs having trouble corralling the loose ball, which gave Lee a perfect opportunity to head the ball into the open net.

Vernon doubled the lead in the 21st minute, taking a shot inside the 18-yard box that made a beeline for the top left corner.

Jessie Candlish, the second-leading scorer on the Pandas a year ago with six goals, tried to reply for the home team but she either shot just off the mark or Chang-Foidl stymied the Edmonton native, giving the Dinos the 2-0 lead at halftime.

Calgary spent most of the second half keeping Alberta hemmed in their own zone and giving the Pandas only low quality scoring chances when they tried to shift the momentum.

Alberta will aim for their first win of the season on Sunday against the Lethbridge Pronghorns while Calgary will head south to face off against the Mount Royal Cougars, both games starting at 12:00 p.m. MT.