The University of British Columbia Athletics

VICTORIA – The UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team finished fourth in the Canada West playoffs after dropping the Final Four bronze-medal game 3-1 in penalty kicks to the host University of Victoria Vikes.

Victoria's graduating senior goalkeeper Tanya Jones made two huge saves in penalty kicks to secure the bronze-medal for her team on a soggy and windy Saturday night in the provincial capital. Flawless in regulation time, Jones allowed just one goal in the penalty kicks.

Playing with a dislocated finger, Jones held strong throughout the game, despite being tested by UBC all-star strikers Janine Frazao (Port Moody, B.C.) and Jasmin Dhanda (Surrey, B.C.).
 
The Vikes got penalty-kick goals from Jackie Harrison (Whitehorse), Lindsay Hoetzel (Victoria, B.C.) and Shannon Elder (Victoria, B.C.), while UBC had a goal in penalty kicks from fifth-year senior Taryn Lim (Richmond, B.C.).

UBC's best scoring chance came in the 22nd minute as Frazao outmuscled UVic defender Elise Butler to get a shot on net but she was denied by a diving Jones. Canada West Rookie of the Year Dhanda was also influential in the game, creating havoc in the opening half.

Victoria senior striker Hoetzel nearly opened the scoring in the last seconds of the first half. Dragged down just outside the 18-yard box, Hoetzel took the free kick, ripping it off the crossbar just inches from the net.

After a back-and-forth battle throughout most of the first two halves, UVic had another great chance to win the game in the last minute of regulation with a great shot from Vikes striker Sarah Douglas (London, Ont.) that sailed just over the top of the crossbar.

With the game scoreless at the end of regulation time, both teams prepared their senior players for penalty kicks (in the Canada West bronze-medal match, teams do not play extra time).

The Vikes would come out with the win in penalties after Jones shut out UBC senior Frazao and freshman Aman Shergill (Surrey, B.C.).
 
- with files from Andy Watson

SCORING SUMMARY (At Field 4, University of Victoria)
Bronze Medal Match
VIC 1 UBC 0 (3-1 on PKs)
 
              1     2     PK     
UBC       0     0     -0 (1)
VIC      0     0     -1 (3)

Regulation: No Scoring

PK Goals: UBC-Taryn Lim / VIC-Jackie Harrison, Lindsay Hoetzel, Shannon Elder

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