VICTORIA, B.C. – The No. 7-ranked University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team found their first win in as many games after defeating the No. 10 UBC Thunderbirds on Sept. 5 at Centennial Stadium. Second-half efforts lifted the home side up 2-1 in front of nearly 1,200 fans to now hold a 1-0-0 record, while the 'Birds fall 0-1-0.

BOX SCORE
 
The Vikes tallied in each half, first from veteran Jaclyn Sawicki and later from Lindsay Machin. First-year Victoria native Meaghan Storie was called to action to handle five key saves as the Vikes out-shot the T-Birds 12-9.
 
For the visitors, keeper Emily Wilson made nine saves in the game to keep the Thunderbirds alive through 90 minutes of play. Taylor Shannik was the lone UBC player to get on the board, while Nicole Sydor provided most of the lethality up front.
 
"We really wanted to look to our veterans this weekend and today you really could see a team that was gritty and determined," said Vikes head coach Tracy David, who enters her 13^th season. "UBC certainly responded well in the second half and never gave us a moment where we felt like were fully in control."
 
T-Birds striker Sydor was the first to put Vikes keeper Storie to the test. Sydor's header went just wide of the net but sent a clear message about UBC's offensive intent. Six minutes following, fourth-year forward Emma Greig gave the Vikes their first chance but her low show from the top of the box rolled just wide of the post.
 
First-half play continued to move from end to end with the better of the chances falling to the Thunderbirds. A series of Shannik corner kicks couldn't provide any opportunity for the visitors, while the Vikes were able to capitalize on a critical chance in the 38^th minute. Greig ran the ball down the right side and along the end line calmly found the right foot of Sawicki who made no mistake to get the Vikes up 1-0.
 
The Vikes almost doubled their score line when Natasha Magnus unleashed a gritty shot from the top of the 18-yard-box but Wilson was again on top of it once again. Second-year T-Bird Aman Shirgill had an equalizing chance just before the break but her header was saved by Storie to keep the game 1-0 in favour of the Vikes.
 
UBC head coach Andrea Neil's half-time chat seemed to be pivotal as less than two minutes into the second frame the T-Birds equalized on a rocket of a shot. Amrit Berar set up Shannik, who buried it from well outside the box to tie the game at one.
 
End-to-end action continued as a few minutes later Vikes forward Greig was tripped up in the box by Shergill to give Sawicki a free go from the penalty spot.
 
Wilson got her hands on Sawicki's penalty kick and the ball ricocheted off the cross bar to keep the score even.
 
There was no shortage of action in the final 15 minutes of play with the T-Birds creating several opportunities from outside the box, while the Vikes were causing havoc inside.
 
In the 77^th minute, third-year defender Machin headed in a left-side cross from Sarah Douglas to get the Vikes up 2-1. With momentum building, Carly Branion-Calles very soon after found herself on a break away run. Wilson stood tall for the close-range shot and the rebound attempt keeping the T-Birds within one.
 
"Credit to the UBC keeper (Wilson) today," added David. "She was outstanding in goal for them and UBC has shown that they are a team that will only continue to get better and better."
 
The Vikes held on to their 2-1 advantage to earn their first win of the season. Up next the Vikes will host the two-time defending CIS national champions, Trinity Western, currently ranked second in the CIS, on Sept. 6 at 5:00 p.m. at Centennial Stadium. The T-Birds will travel to face the Fraser Valley Cascades on Sept. 7 at 12:00 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live at http://canadawest.tv.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
UBC: 0 – 1 : 1
UVIC: 1- 1 : 2
 
GOAL SCORERS:
UBC: Taylor Shannik
UVIC: Jaclyn Sawicki, Lindsay Machin