Vikes remain undefeated with second T-Birds tie

Sept. 21: Victoria Vikes 1 - UBC Thunderbirds 1 (Wright Field - Vancouver, B.C.)

First-year forward Stefanie Langkammer channels UBC's Rachel Donohoe at Wright Field on Sept. 21

VANCOUVER – The University of Victoria Vikes women's field hockey team continued their undefeated streak earning their second-straight 1-1 draw with the three-time CIS defending national champions the UBC Thunderbirds on Sept. 20 in Vancouver. The Vikes maintain their near perfect record at 2-0-1, while the T-Birds are now 0-0-1.

Second-year defender Sophie Jones scored for the Thunderbirds to open the scoring before Vikes rookie Lindsey Cole potted the equalizer just after with both goals coming in the first half of play.

The first half was filled with end-to-end action as both teams were awarded two penalty corners apiece, with UBC converting on one of their attempts and Victoria failing to take advantage of their two chances. Seven minutes into the match, UBC's Jones made no mistake off a penalty corner pass from Hannah Haughn, beating Vikes' goalkeeper Larissa Piva. This came after five minutes of sustained pressure by the Vikes as the Thunderbirds shifted the momentum into their favour.

Victoria responded nine minutes later as Cole found some open field and utilized her impressive individual efforts to break in tho the circle and let go of a backhand flick past UBC goalkeeper Lauren Logush. Shortly thereafter, the Vikes had a goal disallowed off a shot from Annie Walters-Shumka, keeping the game tied at one.

With just over a minute remaining in the half, Victoria was awarded a penalty stroke but Kathleen Leahy failed to convert on the play and Logush's out-stretched foot got a piece of the ball.

To open the second half, the T-Birds had a flurry of penalty corner opportunities but couldn't convert on any of the team's four chances in the early stages. Fifth-year midfielder and national team member Poonam Sandhu had the best opportunity to advance the home team but couldn't find the back of the net. The Vikes had several opportunities of their own, including a Jasmeen Dhaliwal turnover that resulted in a nifty passing play for Leahy whose shot failed to make it through traffic.

Sandhu nearly put away the go-ahead goal once more as time was winding down but couldn't get her stick on the cross-field pass from Haughn as the ball zipped through the circle and out of play. The Vikes had three penalty corner chances of their own in the half but were unable to find the winning goal. The visitors had a great opportunity on a corner with 13:33 left in the game as Leahy fired a rocket just wide of the net.

Both teams enjoyed strong goaltending as Logush and Piva matched each other save for save all weekend.

The Thunderbirds sit in second in the Canada West with a 0-0-2 record and will have to wait another week for the team's first victory, while Victoria finishes the weekend with a 2-0-2 record, good for first in the conference.

Up next for the Thunderbirds is a two-game series against the Dinos in Calgary next weekend while Victoria has a bye week before hosting Calgary two weeks from now.

SCORING SUMMARY
UBC: 1 - 0 : 1
UVIC: 1 -0 : 1

GOAL SCORERS
UBC: Sophie Jones (8')
UVIC: Lindsay Cole (19')

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Kathleen Leahy: Def/Mid; 5' 5"; Third; Team Canada (Oak Bay Sec.)

#17 Annie Walters-Shumka: Def; 5' 5"; Third; Team BC (Claremont Sec.)

#13 Lindsay Cole: For; 5' 3"; Fourth; Team BC (Mount Douglas Sec.)

#16 Larissa Piva: GK; 5' 4"; Fifth; Team BC (South Kamloops Sec.)

Players Mentioned

#10 Kathleen Leahy
: 5' 5"; Third; Team Canada (Oak Bay Sec.)
: Def/Mid

#17 Annie Walters-Shumka
: 5' 5"; Third; Team BC (Claremont Sec.)
: Def

#13 Lindsay Cole
: 5' 3"; Fourth; Team BC (Mount Douglas Sec.)
: For

#16 Larissa Piva
: 5' 4"; Fifth; Team BC (South Kamloops Sec.)
: GK