VICTORIA, B.C. - Taking on Vancouver side the United Brothers on Feb. 2, the University of Victoria Vikes men's field hockey team dropped a 5-2 decision to the visitors after a hard-fought match. 

SCHEDULE / ROSTER

Having played an Island grudge match only two days previous, the University of Victoria Vikes men's field hockey team could be forgiven for any residual fatigue. However, right from the whistle, the UVic men came out strong and controlled the first half tempo. 

Less than two minutes into the match, the Vikes earned a penalty corner but were stymied by Team Canada goalkeeper David Carter. The lone scoring chance for the visitors in the first 35 minutes of play was also the result of a penalty corner, the ball was tipped high and over top of the net to keep the score at 0-0.

Announcing their presence on the scoreboard early, the Vikes opened scoring in the fifteenth minute when Brenden Bissett (Vancouver, B.C.) sent a long pass forward to Tyler Klenk (Regina, Sask.), who then used a backhand hit to put the ball into the Vikes' attacking circle. Ryan Litnosky (North Vancouver, B.C.) redirected the ball on net but the Carter made the first save. Pouncing on the opportunity, Litnosky buried his own rebound. The Vikes entered the break with a 1-0 lead. 

Unfortunately for the UVic men, the second half of play was a different story. The Brothers came out strong and scored a goal in the first minute to make it a tie game. Five minutes later, Vikes keeper Davis Robertson (Vancouver, B.C.) made the initial stop on a Brothers' penalty corner but the rebound went right to the waiting stick of another attacker and the ball was fired into the top of the net for a 2-1 lead. 

After several minutes of play in the Vikes defensive end, a controversial call resulted in penalty stroke for the United Brothers. Robertson got a piece of the shot but was unable to keep it out and the visitors went up 3-1. 

As the intensity of the game increased, several highly physical plays from both sides resulted in numerous warnings from the umpire. The tension came to a crescendo when Litnosky sustained a head injury and was forced to leave the pitch. The transgression was dealt with immediately as the guilty party received a red card and the Vikes played with a man advantage for the remainder of the match. 

The UVic men piled on the pressure and in doing so, left their defense susceptible to counterattack. A long clearing ball found the lone Brothers' striker who beat two defenders and the keeper with some slick moves to put the visitors up 4-1 with 10 minutes left in play.

Two minutes later, the Vikes got right back to work as Bissett danced through the opposition's circle before slipping a cross ball over to Derek Wiggins (Vancouver, BC) who tipped the ball over the line to make the score 4-2.

As desperation set in and the Vikes attempted to make a late-game comeback, the visitors smashed a ball into the Vikes defensive circle and an unfortunate own-goal situation brought the final score to 5-2 in favour of the United Brothers.    

Next up for the University of Victoria Vikes men's field hockey team is an away game against West Vancouver, Feb. 16.