VICTORIA (CIS) – The tournament host Victoria Vikes won their 25th medal in 27 appearances at the CIS women's field hockey championships, after winning their bronze medal match 2-1 over the top-ranked Guelph Gryphons.

The defending champion and no. 3 seeded Vikes won the sixth bronze medal in school history on Sunday morning, with goals from Whitney Siegmann (15th) and Angela Buttress (58th).

"To lose yesterday with three minutes left to play [the team] could have folded up their tents and not even showed up to the game today," said head coach #Lynne Beecroft#. "But as you can see they all battled and especially the fifth year kids, they really rose to the challenge.

Victoria midfielder #Angela Buttress# scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on a penalty stroke in the 58th minute. The third-year North Vancouver native capitalized on the awarded opportunity after a Guelph defender blocked the ball on the goalline.

The Vikes opened the scoring in the 15th minute, with second year Kelowna native #Whitney Siegmann# finding the back of the net.

The Gryphons tied the game just five minutes later on a penalty corner, with two-time all-Canadian Angela Lancaster slipping one past Vikes' netminder #Kaitlyn Williams#.

Guelph, who entered the tournament with an undefeated record and no. 1 seed, was denied a medal for a second consecutive year after also placing fourth at last year's tournament. It also marks the third consecutive year that the top ranked team has been shutout of the medals.

"Our forwards were running everywhere getting balls, penetrating the circle and getting chances," said Victoria captain #Katie Collison#, who played her last game in a Vikes uniform. "It was an overall team effort which was good to see in the final game and we finished strong."

In addition to Collison, Victoria graduating players include defender #Sumeet Aujla# of Surrey, defender #Katie Tittler# of Richmond, and forward Surrey native #Natalie Wise#.

Player of the game honours were presented to a pair of Victoria, BC natives and former teammates at Lambrick Park Secondary. #Kyla Kirby#, a rookie defender, was named the Vikes' game-MVP, while Gryphons Player of the game was rookie defender Lauren Goodmanson.


SCORING SUMMARY
Victoria: 1-1: 2
Guelph: 1-0: 1

First half
15th, UVic, #Whitney Siegmann#
20th, GUE, Angela Lancaster

Second half
58th, UVic, #Angela Buttress#

Goaltenders
Victoria: #Kaitlyn Williams# (W, 70:00, 1 GA, 2-1-2)
Guelph: Dorothy Marcy (L, 68:30, 2 GA, 1-3-1)

Players of the game
Victoria: #Kyla Kirby# (Victoria, BC)
Guelph: Lauren Goodmanson (Victoria, BC)