CALGARY - The University of Victoria Vikes women's field hockey team opened their Canada West campaign with a convincing 6-0 win over the Calgary Dinos at Hawkings Field on Sept. 21. Three goals in each half helped the Vikes to a 1-0-0 record, while the Dinos now fall 0-3-0 in the three-team conference that also includes the defending champions, the UBC Thunderbirds.

The Vikes hemmed the Dinos in their end, maintaining the majority of possession. Leading pre-season goal scorer Amanda Kurianowicz made her second-year debut with the Vikes' first goal in the 15th minute of play. Mei Lin Cheung and Marin Davidson also tallied before the break, while two penalty corner goals from Kyla Kirby and Andrea Jones widened the lead. Kirby notched her second of the game in the 60th minute to close out the scoring.

The scoring opened off some speedy individual efforts from Kurianowitz, who burned by Dinos defender Courtney Duggan and slotted it in the net for the game winner. Cheung extended the lead in the 22nd minute, tipping in a cross that came across goal mouth from Jones, while Davidson had a nice reverse stick deflection off a good delivery from defender Rosie Beale. The Vikes entered the break with the 3-0 edge and the majority of the play.

In the second half, Kirby tallied the Vikes' first penalty corner goal of the season, capitalizing on a straight-strike that went low into the net in the 44th minute. Eight minutes later, Jones extended the lead to five after she cleaned up a loose ball that came in from Kayleen van der Ree intended for Stefanie Hatch. Regardless, the 5-0 margin was achieved and in the 60th minute, Kirby notched her second, finishig a one-timer that came across the circle from Kurianowicz. 

Second-year Goodmanson earned the shut out for the Vikes, as the Vikes walk away with the 6-0 win. The win is a good a start for the young squad who hopes to make a good position in the Canada West standings to qualify for the 2013 CIS / FHC national champinoship that is being hosted in Victoria. Despite the automatic host berth, the Vikes have an opportunity be seeded higher in the four-team tournament for better game match ups.

Today's loss is the third-straight for the young Dinos squad, who boast a new head coach in Henre Meyer. The Dinos were also downed 7-0 and 7-1 against the UBC Thunderbirds last weekend and will turn around to host the Vikes again tomorrow, Sept. 22, at 12 pm at Hawkings Field. Following, the Vikes will take on the T-Birds, who will be without eight starters who are in Mendoza, Argentina competing for Canada at the 2013 Pan American Cup.

Scoring
VIC – Amanda Kurianowicz, FG, 15'
VIC – Mei Lin Cheung, FG, 22'
VIC – Marin Davidson, FG, 31'
VIC – Kyla Kirby, PC, 44'
VIC – Andrea Jones, PC, 52'
VIC – Kyla Kirby, FG, 60'

Goalkeeping
CGY – Stephanie Petrowitsch – 70 MP, 6 GA
VIC – Sheriden Goodmanson– 70 MP, 0 GA, SO