VANCOUVER - The Victoria Vikes stunned the first place UBC Thunderbirds at home on Saturday, netting two quick goals to end a UBC-dominated first half en route to a 3-0 win at Wright Field.
Almost the entire first half was played in Victoria's end, but Vikes keeper Kaitlyn Williams bailed her side out several times.
She closed down a chance for UBC's
Katie Jameson at the side of the net in the 14th minute, and then reigning Canada West female athlete of the week
Robyn Pendleton stripped a Vikes defender and went in on goal alone, only to meet the stacked pads of a charging Williams.
The T-Birds kept the pressure on until the last minute of the half, when a misplayed clearing attempt led to Victoria's first goal.
The initial shot was stopped by UBC keeper
Bea Francisco, but Emily Fisher collected the clearing attempt at the top of the circle and fired it back through the crowd to give the Vikes a 1-0 lead.
Just seconds later, the Vikes caught UBC off-guard to make it 2-0.
Whitney Siegmann's long pass from the sideline somehow found its way to the stick of Courtney Low at the top of the circle, and she one-timed home to put UBC in a big hole to start the second half.
UBC pressed hard to get back in the match in the second half, but momentum was on the Vikes' side after the surprising first half turnaround.
Victoria extended the lead to 3-0 in the 44th minute when Courtney Ellis slammed a rebound home from the side of the net off a short corner.
Williams made multiple diving and kick saves down the stretch to preserve her second straight clean sheet.
The Vikes are now 2-3 on the year, and despite their 0-3 start to the year, they will actually have a chance to pull even with UBC in the standings tomorrow with another win.
The 3-2 Thunderbirds remain first in Canada West despite the loss, but with the whole conference hot on ther trail, tomorrow's 1 p.m. tilt with the Vikes at Wright Field will be a crucial one as the halfway point of the schedule approaches.
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