VICTORIA - Rookie forward
Sarah Keglowitsch (1st, Shawnigan Lake, BC) scored the only goal to lift the UBC Thunderbirds to a 1-0 victory over the Victoria Vikes on Saturday afternoon.
UBC improves to 6-2-1 in Canada West standings while the Vikes drop to 2-7-0.
“It was a good performance,” said UBC head coach Hash Kanjee after the game. “Our defence was much better than it has been the last little while.
Robyn Pendleton and
Poonam Sandhu played were really well, as did
Miranda Mann,
Kirsten Bertsch and
Caitlin Evans, who is back from an injury.”
After a 0-0 first half, the Birds would get the go-ahead goal three minutes into the second period thanks to a solid finish by Keglowitsch.
UBC's stand out forward
Robyn Pendleton (4th, Victoria, BC) would be credited with the assist after rocketing a ball from the right corner through several feet for Keglowitsch to effortlessly re-direct into the mesh.
Strong defensive performances put on by Vikes' Sam Purcell and new addition keeper Alexandra Martinuik were key to keeping the score line tight. Martinuik has previously trained with the Vikes in the indoor season and had a stand out performance for her first game for the Vikes today making several crucial saves against the powerhouse T-Birds.
The opening half saw the Vikes and Thunderbirds evenly battling between the 25-yard lines. UBC keeper
Bea Francisco (2nd, Richmond, BC) and Vikes keeper Alexandra Martinuik were barely tested despite UBC's multiple circle entries.
UBC's most offensive threat, Pendleton, combined well with
Poonam Sandhu (2nd, Vancouver, BC) for multiple attacks down the right side. Rookie Sam Purcell was UVic's neutralizer, thwarting the UBC offence and sending several long balls through.?
In the 18th minute Vikes captain Whitney Siegmann was sent off with a green card for a back tackle as UBC's
Miranda Mann (3rd, Duncan, BC) was streaking towards the circle. UBC, with the man advantage, were awarded a penalty corner but the shot went wide.
Minutes later, UBC was awarded another penalty corner following a baseline run by Pendleton but the corner was well defended.?? Both teams, heavy with island talent, continued to contest in the middle of the park with UBC having the upper edge.
UVic struggled to maintain possession in their offensive end with defenders Kyla Kirby, Carly Krestanovich and Jasleen Aujla getting the most action. Despite the stick-handling skills of UBC's Pendleton and second-year forward
Shanlee Johnston (2nd, Vancouver, BC), first half play was well reflected in the 0-0 score line at the half time break.
After the UBC, in the 52nd minute, the Vikes would get their first penalty corner and best opportunity but UBC's Francisco dove well to her left to save the flick by Siegmann.
Following, UBC's Pendleton missed two close opportunities diving on one and firing a shot wide for the second. Martinuik would keep the game close making a great save on 'Birds forward Johnston's reverse stick shot with 10 minutes left to go. Keglowitsch's goal would stand as the game winner.?
The Vikes-Birds double header continues tomorrow, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m at Victoria.
“We need to have strong back-to-back performances, to play another game as well as this," said Kanjee of Sunday's rematch.
- with files from Ali Lee (Victoria Communications Assistant)
