Reigning champs blank Pandas in opener

EDMONTON – In a rematch of last year's CIS championship, the UVic Vikes
women's field hockey team shutout the Alberta Pandas 1-0 to open the 2009
Canada West season.

The Vikes kicked off the season against their CIS championship rivals
Saturday afternoon at Foote Field. Vikes fifth-year forward #Natalie Wise#
scored the lone goal early in the first half with goalkeeper #Kaitlyn
Williams# stopping all shots to record the shutout.

It was a marquee match-up to start the season, as both teams last met in
the 2008 CIS national championship final, where the Vikes also prevailed,
but by a 2-1 score line.

Wise was able to capitalize on one of the few chances in the first half,
scoring on a scramble in front of the Panda's goal early on.

After a hard penalty corner shot on goal, and a scramble in front of
Alberta goalie Tory Spencer, Wise found the loose ball and pushed it into
the goal for the eventual game winner.

The Vikes came close on another penalty corner situation with 20 minutes
left in the first half, but the shot went off the outside of the post and
into the mesh.

The Vikes look to sweep the weekend series against the Pandas when the two
teams complete the doubleheader on Sunday.

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