VICTORIA, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds women's field hockey team scored their biggest win of the season defeating the University of Victoria Vikes 3-1 Saturday afternoon in the provincial capital. It was a feisty and competitive match for the full 70 minutes and both teams were only successful getting on the board in the second half.

UBC second-year forward Meghan Hayden scored two goals, four minutes apart, to be the difference-maker on the day. Third-year midfielder Hannah Haughn scored the security blanket third goal, while Rachel Donohoe was the playmaker for two of the three tallies. Keeper Lauren Logush was in outstanding form making six saves to keep the game in check. The Thunderbirds scored three goals on just five shots.

The Vikes were in the drivers seat for the opening 35 minutes, hemming the T-Birds in their own half and earning six shots to UBC's zero. The Vikes had three penalty corner chances they failed to convert on, while third-year forward Marin Davidson tapped in the Vikes' only goal in the 53rd minute.

"I thought we really dominated in the first half and credit to Lauren Logush who made some absolutely brilliant saves for them," said Lynne Beecroft, Vikes head coach. "We had a 10 minute lull in the game where (UBC) capitalized and we couldn't change over fast enough to disrupt their tempo."'

It looked as if the Vikes were going to go up in the opening minutes of play as second year Lizzie Yates picked off a UBC transfer pass right in the middle of the circle. Logush was called to duty early to make the save but an ensuing foul gave the Vikes their first penalty corner opportunity just three minutes in. Third-year defender Rosie Beale's strike went just wide of the far post.

The Vikes kept the T-Birds in their end for the majority of the first half but UBC's Donohoe and defenders Sophie Jones and Jasmeen Dhaliwal did well to disrupt play outside the circle. 

Emotions and intensity continued to build throughout the game as Victoria defended with two less players when Kathleen Leahy and Lindsay Cole had five-minute suspensions just one minute apart. Weathering the storm, the Vikes managed to keep the game scoreless, 0-0, entering half time.

Against the run of play, it was UBC that got on the board first after some confusion at the top of the circle allowed Donohoe to take a quick free hit in UVic territory. The former Canada West MVP walked it in and released a backhand shot booked for the mesh. Teammate Hayden added some insurance as the Handsworth grad deflected the ball in mid-air to beat Vikes keeper Sheriden Goodmanson in the 47th minute.

Only four minutes later and UBC found themselves with a penalty corner opportunity. Donohoe, at the receiving end of the pull out, elected to go to her reverse stick and her low shot took a deflection towards the far post for Hayden to redirect to goal to give the T-Birds a 2-0 lead in the 51st minute.

The Vikes were quick to respond as a good midfield transfer from Annie Walters-Shumka allowed Andrea Jones to send a blasting ball from the right side of the pitch across the UBC circle. Lots of bodies congested vision for Logush, allowing Davidson to score her third goal of the season and cut UBC's lead to one.

Trailing 2-1 the Vikes tried to mount a come back but a switch went on for midfielders Sandhu and Haughn who started to put the home team under pressure with their aggressiveness and speed. In the 55th minute, Haughn found herself with some room and space in the circle. The crafty team Canada player blasted a ball high into the mesh to give UBC a 3-1 edge and her fourth goal of the season.

That 10 minutes scoring block had the game's only four goals and the game ended 3-1 in favour of the visiting UBC Thunderbirds who are now 3-0-2, while the Vikes fall 2-1-2.

Up next the Vikes and T-Birds will do battle again tomorrow, Oct. 12, in Victoria's final game of the season. The game will happen at 11 a.m. The Thunderbirds still have a double header left to play against the Calgary Dinos next weekend, Oct. 18-19, hosted at UBC.

SCORING SUMMARY
UBC: 0 – 3 : 3
UVIC: 0 – 1 : 1
 
SCORING LEADERS
UBC: Meghan Hayden (47', 51'), Hannah Haughn (55')
UVIC: Marin Davidson (53')
 
GOAL KEEPING
UBC: Lauren Logush, 70 MP, 1 GA, 6 saves
UVIC: Sheriden Goodmanson, 70 MP, 3 GA, 1 save