GUELPH, Ont. (CIS) – The University of Victoria Vikes bounced back from an earlier loss to upset the top-seeded University of Guelph Gryphons 2-1 at the CIS women's field hockey championship on Thursday.

Perri Espeseth of Duncan, BC and forward Kayleen VandeRee of Courtenay, BC scored for the Vikes while Brittany Seidler of Oliver, BC scored for Guelph in the 6th minute.

Kaitlyn Williams of White Rock, BC was stellar in net for the Vikes, earning the Player of the Game honour for Victoria.

“She rebounded, she's a good kid and she wants to win,” Vikes coach Lynne Beecroft said of her goaltender's reaction to their 3-0 loss to U of T earlier today.

The Vikings made a few changes in the back field for the high-scoring Guelph team and managed to capitalize on their chances, which they didn't do in their earlier game.

“I think Guelph played a very good game and were unlucky to not have scored a couple of times,” said Beecroft.

Espeseth opened the scoring when she carried the ball to the top of the circle and drove it past Kaye McLagan of Mitchell, Ont. to open the scoring in the 4th minute.

The Gryphons didn't stay behind for long as two minutes later two-time CIS Player of the Year Brienne Stairs of Kitchener, Ont. found Seidler on a short corner who swept the ball into the back of the net.

Vikes goaltender Williams kept the score level at 1-1 midway through the first half with a diving stick tackle on Brienne Stairs who had broken away from the defence.

The Vikes finally capitalized on a short corner after going 0-for-11 against Toronto earlier today. Kayleen VandeRee tipped the ball into the top of the net in the 29th minute.

Guelph earned three penalty corners in a row at the start of the second half but couldn't score, just narrowly missing on the third attempt. Brienne Stairs broke through again in the 54th minute but her shot went just wide.

The Vikes were on their heels for most the second half, not getting their first penalty corner until 14 minutes in. They were unable to make anything of it though and on the ensuing breakout, Brienne Stairs carried the ball into the circle and won a short corner. However, the Gryphons too could not capitalize.

Vikes keeper Williams was the main reason that the Gryphons couldn't score in the second half, up to the challenge of penalty corners, breakaways and scrambles in the circle.

The Gryphons (0-2) play the late game on Friday at 4:00 p.m. when they face their OUA archrivals, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues (1-0).

The Vikes (1-1) match up against the University of Waterloo Warriors Friday at 12:20 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Vikes hosted the previous two CIS tournaments, winning gold in 2008 and bronze in 2009.

SCORING SUMMARY
VIC: 2-0: 2
GUE: 1-0: 1

First half
4th, VIC, Perri Espeseth (1)
6th , GUE, Brittany Seidler (1)
29th , VIC, Kayleen VandeRee (1)

Second half
No Scoring

Goaltenders
VIC: Kaitlyn Williams (W, 70:00, 1 GA, 1-1)
GUE: Kaye McLagan (L, 70:00, 2 GA, 0-2)

Players of the game
VIC: Kaitlyn Williams (White Rock, BC)
GUE: Lauren Goodmanson (Victoria, BC)