| Katie Capalbo pushes past a Union team member during the Dinos first home game of the pre-season. The Dinos were defeated by Union, 2-1 in overtime. Despite the loss, the Dinos played strong and competed quite aggresively. |
As the soccer season rapidly approaches, the Dino club continues to prepare by competing in several pre-season games. This past week the girls played three competitive games in order to gain valuable experience before the season begins Aug. 29.
The Dinos started the week off by competing in their third straight road game. Carbon travelled to Uintah where the team struggled from the beginning of the game to get the ball rolling.
Trouble plagued the team from the start as the Dinos travelled without Tacie McFarlane who had to be hospitalized late in the second half against Granite Aug. 17. According to coach Dave Capalbo, McFarlane took a vicious shot and has cracked ribs on one side, torn rib cartilage on the other, a bruised sternum and a bruised lung. McFarlane was released from the hospital and is doing better. She may return to competition in a few weeks.
The Dinos was also without two starters against Uintah. Varsity goalie Dani Long did not travel with the team while Andray Newby played only a few brief minutes, both victims of the flu.
Despite losing several players, the Dinos hit the field ready for competition. “The girls took five or six good shots, but nothing was on target. Uintah’s players must have noticed something because the rest of the game was played in front of our goal. They pass the ball so precise that when we turned the ball over, we never touched it again until the kickoff,” explained coach Capalbo.
The Dinos were frustrated, yet the team continued to put their best effort forward. By the end of the game, Carbon had fell to Uintah 8-0.
After suffering the loss against Uintah, the Dinos returned home where they hosted their first game of the year. Because the team does not have a home field, all of their home games will be played at the College of Eastern Utah’s field located behind the BDAC. For the Dinos, this will be home this season.
Armed with a full roster, excluding McFarlane, the Dinos took to the field to compete against Union.
The game started off quickly as Katie Capalbo scored midway through the first half. By the end of the half, Carbon lead 1-0. Union would even the score however in the second half as the team scored a goal with five minutes left.
Carbon tried to rally, but the half ended with a tie, thus forcing a 10 minute overtime. Union stepped up during this time and scored one goal, thus defeating the Dinos 2-1.
Despite losing to Union, the Dinos played well. The second half was played quite evenly with both teams taking six shots. Not bad for the Dinos who were feeling fatigued after playing back to back games.
The agressive Dino team moved on Friday and travelled to Pleasant Grove for their fourth road trip in five games.
Kristen Donaldson scored early in the game and the Dinos held on to the 1-0 lead throughout the rest of the first half.
“We play two 40 minute halves in high school soccer. When we were in the same situation against Union, I chose to stay aggressive and we gave up the tying goal, so I decided this time to play defensively and try to preserve a 1-0 lead and Pleasant Grove scored anyway,” explained coach Capalbo.
“It stayed 1-1 until one minute left in regulation play. At this time, we got called for a handball in penalty area which gives the other team a penalty kick. It’s just the shooter, one-on-one with the goalie from the 12 yard line. They scored and we lost 2-1,” concluded coach Capalbo.
The Dinos record is currently 2-3 as the team prepares to compete against Tooele at Carbon Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The regular season will begin for the Dinos Thursday in Moab.
“Four of our last five games have been close and competitive against 3, 4, and 5A schools. These girls have come so far in the past three years. In our first year, we went eight consecutive games without scoring. Other coaches told me they started teams and went two and a half years before they scored their first goal and three years before winning their first game,” commented coach Capalbo.
Although the Dino team is young and somewhat inexperienced in the sport of soccer, the team has competed strong during the pre-season. If the Dinos continue to compete with the desire and determination which they have showed thus far this year, the team is bound to have a successful season.