VICTORIA - UBC's
Robyn Pendleton (4th, Victoria, BC) and Victoria defender Sam Purcell would net one each as the Vikes and T-Birds tied 1-1 in Sunday hockey action on Sunday afternoon.
The T-Birds, now secured participants in the 2011 CIS National Championships, pressed hard for the go-ahead but it was the desperate efforts of the Vikes that were unfortunate not to be rewarded.
Pendleton would notch the lone goal for the Birds continuing her streak as the Canada West leading goal scorer with six. The Birds will head to Calgary for the CIS Nationals Nov. 3-6.
The Birds had an early lead, eight minutes in when the Vikes turned the ball over in their defensive end. A speedy Pendleton took the ball to her left and fired a reverse stick shot low and hard past Vikes keeper Alexandra Martinuik to lift the Birds 1-0.
Martinuik was called upon in a series of three UBC penalty corners and a following close chance for UBC's
Shanlee Johnston (2nd, Vancouver, BC), again on the reverse. Play mellowed out for the remainder of the first half with neither team able to generate results in the circle.
Chelsea Morton was the first half play maker for the Vikes, creating space for herself to go on numerous runs up the right side. An almost invisible wall seemed to guard the UBC circle as keeper
Bea Francisco (2nd, Richmond, BC) went the first half without being tested. The Birds woulds sit on Pendleton's early goal leading into the half time break.
In the 47th minute, the Vikes earned their second penalty corner due to hard work up the left side by co-captain, Jasleen Aujla, forcing UBC's Francisco to make her first save of the game. Minutes later, UVic got on the board when rookie defender Purcell flicked the ball high into the mesh on UVic's fourth corner of the game to tie the game 1-1.
The Vikes would ride the momentum wave earning another series of penalty corners but the UBC defence unit did well to clear both Purcell and Whitney Siegmann's shot. UBC's best chance to take the lead was again by Pendleton, whose sheer speed shred the UVic back line but her one-on-one chance was well saved by an out-stretched toe of Martinuik.
Action continued in both ends in what would be a very entertaining second half of chances. The Vikes pressed hard and defended a penalty corner as time expired but the tie drops the Vikes to 2-7-1. The Birds remain in first place with a 5-2-2 record.
UBC will host two games against the University of Alberta next weekend before beginning preparations for the CIS Championships, taking place in Calgary from November 3-6.
