VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes finished off their Canada West regular season with a 2-2 tie against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon at the UVic Field Hockey Turf.
Yesterday's win clinched the Vikes 21st Canada West title and the right to host the U SPORTS national championship next weekend.
The Thunderbirds dominated the first quarter with four consecutive corners, five in total.
Once again, Sara Goodman was blasting shots from the top of the zone, but the Vikes kept knocking them out of bounds. Goodman, who was named the Canada West Player of the Year, finally got one through, but Robin Fleming was there to kick it out of play.
The Thunderbirds finally converted a penalty corner in the second quarter when after another Goodman blast, Niki Best chipped it in by the left goal post in the 18th minute.
The only offence the Vikes saw in the first half came from the three-time Canada West All-Star Anna Mollenhauer, who drove deep into the T-birds zone, but couldn't get a threatening shot on net.
In the second half off another Thunderbirds corner, Izzy Fraser wound up on her back but was still able to redirect her first of the season off a shot from Goodman in the 37th minute.
Less than one minute later, the Vikes capitalized on a corner of their own.
Mollenhauer teed up a shot at the top of the zone and Judy Cristante buried the rebound for her first of the season.
The Vikes forced the tie in the final frame when Leina Dueck tipped in a shot from the outside with five minutes remaining in regulation.
With the draw, the Vikes navigated the season without a loss, at 5-0-3, while the Thunderbirds crossed the finish line at 2-1-5.
The U SPORTS national championship gets underway on Friday, Nov. 1 (4 p.m.), when the Vikes host the Ontario University Athletics conference champion.
SCORING SUMMARY
UBC – Niki Best, PC, 6' 1-0 UBC
UBC – Izzy Fraser, PC, 15' 2-0 UBC
VIC – Judy Cristante, PC, 22' 2-1 UBC
VIC - Leina Dueck, FG, 55' 2-2 T
GOALKEEPERS
VIC – Robin Fleming 60 MP, 2 GA
UBC – Hannah Rumble 60 MP, 2 GA
CARDS
VIC – Tessa Johnston, GC, 17'
