VICTORIA (CIS) – The Victoria Vikes began their title defence on day one of the CIS field hockey championship with a 2-1 victory over the no. 4 seed Toronto Varsity Blues. #Angela Buttress# scored in the second minute of play, to give her no. 3 Vikes a win in their tournament debut.

For the second consecutive year, Victoria defeated Toronto on the opening day of the CIS tournament. In 2008, the Vikes took a 2-1 decision from the Varsity Blues en route to the program's record-tying 11th CIS title.

Angela Buttress, a third year forward from North Vancouver, BC, put the Vikes on the scoreboard shortly after the opening whistle. Victoria generated early pressure deep in the Toronto zone, and Buttress managed to foil the clearance attempt and skied the ball into the top corner of the goal.

"I think it was really important just to get our heads in the right place and get the first goal," said Buttress, who was also named Victoria's Player of the Game. "[Toronto] is always a hard working team, but their style is completely different than our so we never quite know how it's going to turn out when we play against them on the turf."

Buttress came to close to widening the lead minutes later, but was thwarted by Toronto 'keeper Samantha Lyzun. Both 'keepers, including Vikes All-Canadian netminder #Kaitlyn Williams#, never conceded another goal in the defensive-minded affair. For Williams, a native of White Rock, BC, it was her second career shutout at the CIS tournament.

Toronto defender Anna Sophie Kehrein was named Player of the Game for the OUA finalists. The rookie from Germany was relentless in the backfield, holding the Vikes to just one goal and keeping the pressure off. The Varsity Blues will need another strong defensive effort in game 4, later today,, as they battle OUA rival Guelph Gryphons. The rematch of the OUA final, which Guelph won 1-0, takes place at 5:50 p.m.

Victoria, meanwhile, will not return to the pitch until day two with a morning match-up against the UBC Thunderbirds. The two west coast rivals are tied for the CIS lead with 11th McCrae Cup title apiece. Game time is 10 a.m.

SCORING SUMMARY
VIC: 1-0: 1
TOR: 0-0: 0

First half
2nd, VIC, Angela Buttress

Second half
No scoring

Goaltenders
VIC: Kaitlyn Williams (W, 70:00, 0 GA, 1-0)
TOR: Samantha Lyzun (L, 70:00, 1 GA, 0-1)

Players of the game
VIC: Angela Buttress (North Vancouver, BC)
TOR: Anna Sophie Kehrein (Speyet, Germany)