New coach Ryan Sheahan earns first win with Calgary Dinos soccer

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EDMONTON — Ryan Sheahan bought his first win teaching the Calgary Dinos on Friday night time.

And it got here in enemy — and arch-rival — territory.

Nate Beauchemin scored two defensive touchdowns following interceptions, whereas Gideon Agyei added one other and Vince Triumbari went an ideal 5-for-5 on area purpose makes an attempt because the Dinos soccer group locked down the fifth-ranked Alberta Golden Bears with a 36-22 win from Foote Subject.

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Alberta scored the primary 9 factors of the sport, solely to see Beauchemin notch his first pick-six with 5:02 left within the first quarter — simply two performs earlier than Agyei jumped an out-route and returned the ball 18 yards for an additional TD off an interception to present the Dinos a 14-9 lead and utterly flip the momentum of this one.

In all, the Dinos defence completed the night time with 4 INTs and eight complete turnovers for his or her second-straight sport with five-plus turnovers to start out the season.

“The defence was sensational,” stated first-year Dinos sideline boss Sheahan. “They’ve been our coronary heart and soul during coaching camp. We’re nonetheless studying how one can adapt to this new system on offence. We nonetheless have some guys that this was their second sport, so rusty is an understatement. Now we have quite a lot of work to do to enhance, however this was a terrific group win.

“The fellows should really feel good after this one. We had nice particular groups and glorious defence. And on offence, we bought some clutch first downs once we wanted to, however there’s nonetheless work to do.”

After a fast pick-six by Alberta and a group security enjoying the sphere place sport, Calgary shortly discovered themselves in a 9-0 gap.

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Cue the Dinos defence.

Stress from defensive lineman Liam Reid compelled an errant throw by Eli Hetlinger and Beauchemin was ready. The fourth-year defensive again weaved his strategy to midfield earlier than turning on the jets for a 73-yard rating.

Two performs later, it was Agyei’s flip. The Toronto native picked it off on the 18-yard line, prevented one tackler and scampered into the top zone to stun the Alberta homecoming crowd.

After the 2 groups traded area objectives, it was Beauchemin once more. With the Bears driving simply previous midfield, the native of Kelowna, B.C. grabbed his second choose of the day on the 35-yard line and coasted 75 yards for his second rating of the day.

With the 148 return yards, Beauchemin broke the Dinos single-season — and sport — interception return yardage earlier than halftime. Darren Peterson beforehand held the mark with 142 INT return yards again in 1987 season.

After the sport, Beauchemin mirrored on his two game-turning performs.

“The primary one, I used to be one man overlaying two and it occurred to return to me. The second … if the ball went anyplace else, I’d have been out of place and heard about it on movie. It feels good. You get a little bit bit fortunate typically, however it’s all concerning the week of follow that prepares you for these moments.”

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The Dinos added a pair of Triumbari area objectives to carry a 30-12 lead on the half, milking the sport away over the ultimate half-hour — solely seeing Alberta discover the top zone with the sport already determined.

Calgary’s floor sport confirmed enchancment in Week 2, with Matthieu Clarke churning out 52 yards on 17 carries, whereas Tieso Piscionieri had plenty of gouging runs earlier than ending with 45 yards and simply eight makes an attempt.

Dom Britton completed the night time simply 10-of-22 for 156 yards however got here up with plenty of key performs, together with a 46-yard strike to Jack Gutek simply earlier than halftime to arrange a Triumbari chip-shot.

Defensively, Ethan Ball led Calgary with 9 tackles. Beauchemin added six, whereas teammates Osasare Odemwingie and Everett Schmuland every tallied 5.

Steen Rasmussen collected the Dinos fourth and last interception of the night time — his second in as many video games to start out the season.

The win continues Calgary’s run of dominance on the highway within the Battle of Alberta, profitable the final 11 instances in Edmonton, with the final highway loss within the collection by the Dinos coming again on Oct. 25, 2008.

“The fellows had been all congratulating me on my first win as head coach, however this group beat U of A,” added Sheahan. “That’s what we’re actually pleased with. (The Bears) are an excellent soccer group, and we confirmed up and beat them at residence.”

Up subsequent, Calgary heads northeast to Saskatoon to tackle a Saskatchewan Huskies squad that’s nonetheless in search of its first win after a 33-28 loss to the Regina Rams on Friday.

— Tim Prahl

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