VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team battled hard through torrential downpour at Centennial Stadium but conceded a 3-0 loss to the Fraser Valley Cascades in the Canada West quarter-finals. The No. 6 Vikes were upset by the unranked Cascades to have their season end with a 8-1-3 record. Fraser Valley will move on to the Canada West Final Four next weekend, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, at Trinity Western.
 
All but the score was in line for the nationally-ranked Vikes who out-shot Fraser Valle 13-6. It was a heart breaker for fifth-year midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki who evidently laid all of her energy on the pitch in her final game as a Vike. This was the first game the Vikes had allowed more than one goal against.
 
The Cascades brought out a gritty and tight defensive unit that weathered an early Victoria offensive storm to come back and stun Vikes keeper Meaghan Storie. Two quick goals three minutes apart was the difference as Avneet Bhullar and Carley Radomski scored at the 35^th and 38^th minute mark. Radomski buried her second of the game in the 57^th, while the Cascades only mustered four shots on goal. Keeper Kayla Klim was outstanding with five saves in the game to record her sixth shut out of the season.
 
The opening minutes of the game were all in favour of the home team as the Vikes had three corner kicks and seven shots but were unable to bury one past Klim. The Vikes had several chances on goal sparked by some gritty work by forward Emma Greig. The fourth year was all over the pitch on both ends of the ball but could not find her footing well enough to get on the board.
 
The Cascades' first offensive opportunity came in the 33^rd minute when Karlee Pedersen's cross found it's way back to her but the one-timer shot blasted over the bar. Minutes later the visitors earned back-to-back corner kicks and made good on their second. Tristan Corneill's left-footed cross was tapped in by rookie defender Bhullar to give Fraser Valley the 1-0 lead.
 
Less than three minutes later Radomski found herself uncontested just outside the 18-yard-box. The second-year midfielder's shot was slightly off-pace but fooled Storie to give the visitors a 2-0 lead against the flow of play.
 
The Vikes poured all their energy in for the final minutes of the half. Sawicki was fouled at the top of the box in the 42^nd minute but Greig's ensuing free kick went just over the cross bar. Third-year forward Sarah Douglas had the Vikes' last promising attempt blasting a long-range shot just high in the 44^th minute.
 
The Vikes entered the break with the first-half opportunities in their favour but two finishes on three chances was the difference for Fraser Valley who held a 2-0 lead at half.
 
The Cascades earned a corner kick in the 56^th minute, where they again found success. Shelby Beck served the honours up and the ball ricocheted in and out of the box to a waiting Radmoski, who buried the ball for her second goal of the game and a 3-0 lead for the Cascades.
 
Water pooled all over the pitch preventing the ball from moving at any pace on the ground, while players were sliding and slipping in almost every play. The Vikes' typical quick-pace game was severely hindered by the conditions, while Fraser Valley continued to get stuck in show good team defence.
 
The Cascades did well to protect their 3-0 lead as defenders Dayle Jeras, Jade Palm, Corneil, Bhullar and keeper Klim gave the Victoria front line little room to maneuver.
 
With a final offensive push, Sawicki and Abigail Raymer each rang one off the bar in the final minutes but it was the same luck the Vikes had faced all night. The Cascades cleared the ball well and stayed compact to earn themselves a 3-0 win and continue through the post-season.
 
Up next the Fraser Valley will prepare for the Canada West Final Four, hosted at Trinity Western next weekend, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. The top-two teams will head to the CIS National Championship, Nov. 6-9 in Quebec City, Que.
 
This was the final game for Vikes seniors Carly Branion-Calles, Cassie Dennis, Maryse Reichgeld, Mallory Hackett and Sawicki.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
UFV: 2 – 1 : 3
UVIC: 0 – 0 : 0
 
SCORING LEADERS
UFV: Avneet Bhullar (35'), Carley Radomski (38', 57')
UVIC: none