VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team are now undefeated at home for seven games after defeating the Regina Cougars 5-1 in the first Canada West quarter-final on Oct. 25 at Centennial Stadium. With the win the Vikes secure their top seed and will turn around to host the conference Final Four, Nov. 1-2, for the western berths to the CIS national championship.
 
BOX SCORE
 
The Vikes had three players contribute tonight including the opener from Emma Greig and two from each of Jacqueline Harrison and Cassie Dennis. Harrison and Greig continue to lead the Vikes in scoring with seven and five goals, respectively. The regular season champions are now one game away from a CIS championship berth.
 
The Cougars struggled to manage the speed of the Vikes tonight despite keeper Stephanie Possberg tallying seven saves in the game. The Vikes out-shot the Cougars 22-5 through 90 minutes of play. The Cougars did manage to snap the shut out with a late goal from Molly Glass.
 
"We are definitely proud of ourselves," said Vikes leading goal scorer and fifth-year captain Harrison. "We had a few early losses in the season and we were able to have a turning point after the Alberta game. Now we are hosting and this is a great spring board into the final four."
 
The Vikes opened the scoring in the 17^th minute after a series of runs down the right side of the pitch by Carly Branion-Calles. The five-foot-two midfielder's speed was difficult for the Cougars to contend with as she drew the entire defence line and keeper Possberg to the near post. A perfectly threaded ball back to the top of the six-yard-box allowed Greig to notch her fifth of the season and give the Vikes a 1-0 lead.
 
Play continued in favour of the home team and they were rewarded in the 37^th minute. Harrison put away a shot from the penalty spot to lift the Vikes up by two after Lindsay Hoetzel was taken out on a late Cougars slide tackle.
 
The Vikes continued to pressure Regina with waves of offence, out-shooting the visitors 12-2 in the opening half. Just prior to the break Brigitte Greig and Meagan Cormier collided on a header attempt that forced the Cougars to sub their most lethal scorer. The Vikes generated two more close attempts, stymied by Possberg, to end the first half up 2-0.
 
In the second half, Cormier returned to the pitch and transitioned from midfield to the forward line to try and get Regina on the board. The Vikes also made a worthy substitution adding Sarah Douglas, who nearly lifted the Vikes by three after fancy footwork freed her up for a shot that boomed off the cross bar early in the second frame.
 
The Cougars stayed in the game rallying to cut the lead to one with a goal in the 66^th minute from Glass. The floating shot from the right side of the 18-yard-box dipped under the bar and in despite Vikes keeper Tanya Jones getting a touch.
 
The one-goal margin did not last long as Dennis' header lifted the Vikes up 3-1 in the 74^th minute. Mallory Hackett was taken out on the left side of the pitch and the resulting free kick was well struck by Harrison for the five-foot-seven Dennis to head past Possberg.
 
The Vikes added two late goals, one from each of Harrison and Dennis, to take the game 5-1 and maintain their undefeated streak at home.
 
The Vikes will now play host to the Canada West Final Four featuring the winners of the remaining three quarter-final match ups from Oct. 26. Semifinal action will begin on Nov. 1 at 5 and 7:15 p.m., while the bronze and gold medal games will take place on Nov. 2.
 
All games are at Centennial Stadium with the top-two qualifying for the CIS national championship being hosted in Toronto, Ont. Nov. 7-10.
 
The Canada West Final Four will be broadcast live at http://canadawest.tv

For playoff ticket information visit http://govikesgo.com/tickets
 
SCORING SUMMARY
UVIC: 2 – 3 : 5
REG: 0 – 1 : 1
 
GOAL SCORERS
UVIC: Emma Greig (17th), Jackie Harrison (31^st, 35^th), Cassie Dennis (74^th, 87^th)
REG: Molly Glass (66th)