VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team extended their undefeated streak to four thanks to second-year midfielder Cam Stokes, who notched two goals in Victoria's 4-0 win over the Trinity Western Spartans on Sept. 20 at Centennial Stadium. The Vikes extend their win streak to four and improve their record to 4-1-0, while the Spartans drop to 1-4-0.
 
BOX SCORE  /  FULL SCHEDULE
 
"This game was huge for us. Trinity Western has a few injury problems and it's not their best season but still they are a very tough team," said Vikes head coach Bruce Wilson. "If I had to pick out one of our better players this year it is definitely Cam Stokes. He has played in every game so far and I thought he took the two goals today extremely well."
 
Stokes scored in the 20^th and 31^st minute to give the Vikes the clear go-ahead, while midfielders Cam Hundal and Craig Gorman each picked up assists. Kurt Macaulay and Gavin Barrett each tallied in the second half as the Vikes out-shot the visitors 18-12.
 
Evan Lowther made eight saves in the match for the Spartans, who were down six starters including striker Dominic Reinold and midfielder Brayden Gant. Trinity Western relied on the composure of Mitchell Rohla and Elie Gindo to lead the injury-laden squad.
 
In the opening minute of play the Vikes put Lowther to the test as some solo foot skills from defender Toshi Hayashi sprung Hundal for a left-footed shot. Lowther was forced to make the save and three consecutive ones following. In the 20^th minute, a speedy 30-yard run from Hundal gained him the baseline, where his pass to the top of the six-yard-box was faked over by Gorman and finished by Stokes for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Vikes continued to dominate possession and found themselves with a free kick attempt from 40 yards out. Gorman's left-footed service was chested down at the top of the box and finished again by Stokes, who tallied his second of the game and fourth of the season.
 
The Vikes continued to poor on the pressure, while Lowther keeper did well to make six first-half saves. Tight defensive work from Trinity Western's Kalem Scott and Andrew Dobbie anchored the backline and kept the score at 2-0 in favour of the home side entering the break.
 
In the second half it was the Spartans who were the first to make the most of their opportunities as Scott worked his way into the box from the right side, beating two people and firing a shot that rolled just wide of the net. Almost a minute later a miscue from Lowther resulted in Sam Prette's seemingly open-net shot going just left of the goal mouth.
 
In the 71^st minute, second-half substitution Macaulay netted his fourth of the season after he cleaned up a loose ball with an off-pace shot that caught Lowther out of position. Lowther injured himself while trying to get across the net to make the save forcing second-year Andrew Hicks to man the posts for the remainder of the match. 
 
The final tally came in the 86^th minute when Spencer Mackinnon curled a ball into the box off a corner kick for Barrett to head seamlessly into the back of the net to lift the Vikes 4-0 over the Spartans.
 
"We are scoring goals. We have scored a bunch but we still have to tighten up at the back," added Wilson. "Tomorrow is a very big game against UBC. It's up to us now. We have to stand up to play and cut down our mistakes in the back and I hope it will be a very good game."
 
With the win the Vikes advance 4-1-0 and the Spartans drop to 1-4-0 in the Pacific Division. Up next the Vikes will turn around to host the defending CIS champions, the UBC Thunderbirds, Sept. 21 at 7:15 p.m. at Centennial Stadium while Trinity Western will visit Fraser Valley on Sept. 22 at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed live at http://canadawest.tv
 
SCORING SUMMARY
UVIC: 2 – 2 : 4
TWU: 0 – 0 : 0
 
GOAL SCORERS
UVIC: Cam Stokes (20', 31'), Kurt Macaulay (71'), Gavin Barrett (86')
TWU: none