VICTORIA, B.C. – Continuing their run for the playoffs in the Vancouver Men's Premier league the University of Victoria Vikes men's field hockey team fell 4-1 to varsity rivals the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
 
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Boasting a roster of mostly junior and senior national team players the Thunderbirds are a traditionally challenging match-up and Saturday's game proved to be no different. Although the Vikes outworked their Vancouver competition for most of the game it was their inability to capitalize on opportunity that hurt them in the end.
 
Eleven minutes into the first half UBC earned a series of penalty corners but anchored by goalkeeper Davis Robertson (Vancouver, B.C.) the Vikes defense held strong. Shortly after, the Vikes went on the counterattack as they earned their first penalty corner of the game. Unfortunately for the Vikes, the shot was deflected just wide of the goal.
 
Giving the UVic men another crack at taking the lead, second year forward Liam Taaffe (North Vancouver, BC) had two almost surefire chances but was unable to get the ball across the line and the score remained at 0-0.
 
Just minutes before halftime a defensive foul in the Vikes' circle earned the Thunderbirds another penalty corner and this time Team Canada's John Smythe was right on target to give UBC the 1-0 advantage going into the break.
 
The Thunderbirds settled into the second half quite comfortably as Gordie Johnston, fired a shot on goal and sent it home to put UBC up by two. Looking to generate some offensive opportunity, the Vikes found themselves susceptible to counterattack and the 'Birds took advantage, tallying twice to lead by four with ten minutes to go.
 
With dogged determination, the Vikes held on and pushed their way onto the board with a brilliant penalty corner play that saw Derek Wiggins (Vancouver, BC) rifle a shot on net for a deflection by Brenden Bissett (Vancouver, B.C.). The five minutes left in the match were not enough for the Vikes to even the score and the result remained at 4-1.