VICTORIA - The University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team improved to 7-2-2 and took over first place in the Canada West men's soccer standings with a  3-1 win over the Calgary Dinos at Centennial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

BOX SCORE

UVic had goals from #Corey Sanford# (Campbell River, B.C.) in the 14th minute, #David Adams# (Surrey, B.C.) in the 79th minute, #Cam Hundal# (Surrey, B.C.) in the 83rd minute. Calgary's lone goal came from the feisty Yoann Promonet who notched his goal in the 73rd minute off a nice second effort on a scramble in the 18-yard-box.

"I think we felt the pressure a bit coming off wins over UBC and Trinity Western last weekend," said Vikes head coach #Bruce Wilson#. "It's not the prettiest of wins for us but we'll take it. Gorman and Hundal were terrific again today, and David scored another winner for us."

"We're now through nine games without losing," Wilson added. "We never should have lost to Trinity Western, and we surrendered a few quick goals to UBC, but otherwise we've played very well this season. I'm pleased with how we're doing."

The Vikes dominated the first half of play. The first decent scoring chance came off a Sanford header that was stopped by Dinos goalkeeper Jordan Unreiner (Calgary) on nice cross from Andrew Ravenhill (Victoria) in the 14th minute.

Sanford eventually was rewarded for his persistence, after some great work by #Thomas Mallette# (Trail, B.C.) created a nice through-ball which Sanford chased down and drilled it home in 20th minute to give the VIkes a 1-0 cushion.

In the 44th minute, Vikes goalkeeper #Elliot Mitrou# (Victoria dove to make a great save off a well-timed header by Calgary's Jeremy Jenkyns (Calgary) and the teams entered the halftime break with the Vikes leading 1-0. Mitrou finished with seven saves but also had a strong kicking performance and took away a number of dangerous aerial crosses put into the box by the Dinos.

The Dinos were a different team in the second half, putting more pressure on the ball and forcing the Vikes into a defensive formation.

Devin Delany (Vancouver, B.C.) nearly tied the score in the 51st minute, but Mitrou made a diving save to redirect the ball just outside of the post to keep the Vikes ahead. A minute later, Christofer Schroeder (Calgary, Alta.) was stopped by Mitrou who calmly collected the ball.

Mitrou kept his team ahead, making several saves and getting help from his fullbacks on two other occasions. Several blocked shots allowed on scoring attempts from Jenkyns, Lane Forsyth (Calgary, Alta.) and Delany in the 59th and 60th minutes preserved the 1-0 UVic lead.

"I definitely had to keep a level head and just quietly go about my decision making," Mitrou said. "My defenders know how much it means to me when they block shots, it makes my role easier. I'm pleased with the way they really stepped up and outworked the other team to help out. It was simply a matter of our guys wanting it more."

But eventually, the Dinos were rewarded for their work.

Just after the Vikes rookie combo of Hundal and #Craig Gorman# (Victoria) failed to find the net on a beautiful cross from Hundal that just missed Gorman, Calgary counterattacked and benefitted from their fierce work in the box. Two awkward bounces off a header and then another pro-Calgary deflection allowed Promonet to score on a high, curling shot from just inside 18-yard-box to tie the game at 1-1 in the 73rd minute.

A minute after Gorman was stopped on a low driving shot by Unreiner, Adams scored as his header found the net off a cross from Gavin Barrett (Richmond, B.C.) in the 79th minute to give the Vikes the 2-1 lead. Then Hundal scored the insurance goal in 83rd minute taking a through-ball from Gorman and beating Unreiner to the ball. Hundal's delicate first touch slid low past the keeper to make it 3-1 UVic.

UVic hosts the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. at Centennial Stadium in their final regular season home game.