VICTORIA (CIS) – In need of a victory to earn a spot in the CIS women's field hockey championship's gold medal match, the Victoria Vikes were stunned by two Alberta Pandas goals in the final five minutes as the defending champs suffered a 2-1 defeat.
The host Vikes suffered their first loss of tournament, ending their portion of round-robin competition with a 1-1-2 record and eliminating their chances of defending their CIS title on home turf.
The no. 5 seeded Pandas avenged their loss in last year's CIS gold medal final with goals in 65th and 68th minutes, to improve their record to 1-2-0. A win tonight against Guelph, and the Pandas will earn a repeat appearance in Sunday's final, where they will face the no. 2 UBC.
Canada West Player of the year Jackie Trautman scored the equalizer for Alberta on a penalty stroke with just five minutes remaining in regulation. Alberta was awarded the penalty stroke after the Vikes defender used her body to prevent the ball from entering the net. Second Team all-Canadian Bunny Hughes put the Pandas ahead just three minutes later, scoring on a penalty corner.
"It was our first points of the tournament so we still have a chance to get into that gold medal game," said Hughes, a senior forward from Victoria. "Our whole team played phenomenal, we came together and it's a perfect day for us when everyone shows up, everyone's in it, everyone's working together and supporting each other."
Vikes senior forward #Natalie Wise# gave the home side an early advantage by scoring in the 5th minute. Victoria generated early offensive pressure that produced a penalty corner opportunity, which Wise buried for her second goal in as many games.
The loss means Victoria will be forced to wait on the outcome of the final two round-robin matches between UBC and Toronto, and Alberta and Guelph. The T-Birds have assured their spot in the final with a 2-0-1 record, but the other four teams are locked in a standings quagmire with tie-breakers guaranteed to factor into the equation.
Alberta will return to action at 4 p.m. to face Guelph (1-1-1) in the final game of round-robin play.
Pandas game-MVP honours went to fourth-year defender Jennifer Peacock of Calgary. Victoria's Player of the game was presented to Surrey, BC native Sumeet Aujla, a fifth-year defender.
SCORING SUMMARY
Victoria: 1-0: 1
Alberta: 0-2: 2
First half
5th, UVic, Natalie Wise
Second half
65th, AB, Jacqueline Trautman
68th, AB, Bunny Hughes
Goaltenders
Victoria: #Kaitlyn Williams# (L, 70:00, 2 GA, 1-1-2)
Alberta: Tory Spencer (W, 70:00, 1 GA, 2-2-0)
Players of the game
Victoria: #Sumeet Aujla# (Surrey, BC)
Alberta: Jennifer Peacock (Calgary, AB)
