TORONTO (U Sports) – The UBC Thunderbirds claimed their sixth consecutive McCrae Cup with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory (2-0 shootout) over the Victoria Vikes as the 2016 CIS field hockey championship wrapped up Sunday evening at the University of Toronto's Back Campus Fields.
 
It was the second consecutive season that the Thunderbirds needed a shootout to defeat the Vikes for the title. UBC adds to their national record, claiming their 18^th U Sports title in program history, and becomes the only team to have won six consecutive national banners dating back to 1975.
 
The T-Birds improve to 18-6 in 24 national final appearances, while also bettering their head-to-head record over the Vikes to 12-11-7 in U Sports championship history.


 
"We played well enough to win today and that's all that counts in tournament hockey," said UBC head coach Robin D'Abreo. "I am so proud of these girls. This win was well deserved. I can't say enough about our graduating seniors. They were the core of our team, they have been all year and they played fantastic games."
 
After a scoreless first half, fifth-year Vikes forward and 2016 U Sports all-Canadian Amanda Kurianowicz opened the scoring in the 49th minute, tallying Victoria's first goal since Friday off a penalty corner.
 
The T-Birds evened the score in the 61^st minute as fifth-year veteran Gabby Jayme scored off a penalty corner to force the shootout.


 
UBC netminder Gabriella Switzer came up big for the T-Birds, stopping all four Vikes she faced, while 2016 U Sports co-player of the year Rachel Donohoe and fourth-year midfielder Sarah Keglowitsch both scored to secure the T-Birds victory.
 
Fifth-year UBC veteran Hannah Haughn earned championship MVP honours.
 
Victoria ends the 2016 campaign with their 12^th national silver medal in program history.

"I'm really proud of the transformation that this team has made since the beginning of the season," said Vikes head coach Lynne Beecroft. "I think everyone stepped up after we lost Kathleen Leahy a couple of weeks ago. It's going to be sad for me to lose the five players that I lose this year because they are such quality hockey players but more importantly they are such quality people. The winning or losing is what it is but I'm going to really miss those young ladies."
 

The @USportsCA video highlights of @ubcwfieldhockey winning their 6th consecutive McCrae Cup. #GoBirdsGo #UsportsFH16 pic.twitter.com/AUQ74TFOo7

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) November 6, 2016

SCORING SUMMARY
UBC: 0-1: 1
VIC:  0-1: 1
 
First half
No Scoring.
 
Second half
VIC Amanda Kurianowicz (2), 49th minute
UBC Gabby Jayme (1), 61^st minute

Goaltenders
UBC: Gabriella Switzer (W, 70:00, 1 GA, 2-0-0)
VIC: Lariss Piva (L, 70:00, 1 GA, 1-1-2)
 
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
UBC Stephanie Norlander, no goal (0-0)
VIC Amanda Kurianowicz, no goal (0-0)
UBC Hannah Haughn, no goal (0-0)
VIC Lindsay Cole, no goal (0-0)
UBC Rachel Donohoe, goal (1-0)
VIC Cilia van Nierop, no goal (0-1)
UBC Sarah Keglowitsch, goal (2-0)
VIC: Sophia Murray no goal (0-2)
          
Players of the game
UBC: Gabriella Switzer (Vancouver, B.C.)
VIC: Annie Walters-Shumka (Victoria, B.C.)
 
CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS
 
Championship MVP: Hannah Haughn (North Vancouver, B.C.), UBC
 
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Guelph Gryphons
 
Championship All-Stars:
Lindsay Cole (Victoria, B.C.), Victoria
Ciara Condon (London, Ont.), Guelph
Rachel Donohoe (North Vancouver, B.C.), UBC
Hannah Haughn (North Vancouver, B.C.), UBC
Olivia Lane (Guelph, Ont.), Guelph
Alison Lee (Mississauga, Ont.), Toronto
Elizabeth O'Hara (Oakville, Ont.), Toronto
Rebecca Plouffe (Oakville, Ont.), Guelph
Annie Walters-Shumka (Victoria, B.C.), Victoria
Kristina Walters-Shumka (Victoria, B.C.), Victoria
Emma Wingrave (Oakville, Ont.), Toronto