VICTORIA, B.C. – It's a good thing the Saanich Fire Department is across the street because they can quickly respond to the human torch that is Isaac Koch. The fourth-year midfielder is absolutely on fire.

For an encore, Koch backed up his hat trick with a two-goal performance and to help lift the University of Victoria Vikes 3-2 over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on Saturday evening during Canada West action. The Vikes have now won three consecutive games.

"He's been unbelievable. He's a big reason to where we are right now; the stats speak for themselves," said Vikes defender Evan Libke. "I honestly think he would trade in all of his goals in exchange for a trip to nationals."

A trip to nationals might not feel lik a pipe dream any more, as after this win, the Vikes are tied with the Trinity Western University Spartans for the most wins in the Pacific Division (7).

The margin for error is razor thin, as two wins separates sixth from second. With all that on the line as the season winds down, a playoff-like atmosphere unfolded at Centennial Stadium.

"I've never seen the division this tight in my five years. We pay attention to the standings, but at the end of the day, we just focus on ourselves and what we can control," said Libke. "Tonight was a battle and those were three huge points that we earned."

Ian Whibley had the first great chance for the Vikes in the 8^th minute. Nick Park forced a turnover and gave it to Whibley who was in on WolfPack keeper Jackson Gardner. Whibley's strike was turned away by Gardner's right foot.

Still smoldering from last night, Isaac Koch put the Vikes on the board in the 15^th minute on a free kick 25 yards out. Niko Cristante bluffed the strike and Koch came in and sent a rocket over the wall into the top corner past a diving Gardner.

It didn't take long for the WolfPack to answer.

Two minutes later, Daniel Sagno touched a pass to Marco Favaro inside the box. Favaro cut to the middle and fired to the back post with the left and slipped it past Jas Lally for his first of the season.

Koch kept it up in the 25^th minute when he took a feed out of the middle from Niko Cristante and entered the box, went around Harry Coles and buried a left-footed strike for his fifth goal on the weekend. Koch entered the weekend with three goals in eight games.

Libke has been in on most corners this year, trying to head one home. The Vikes co-captain finally connected on a corner from Cristante in the 35^th minute when he cut to the back post and one-timed his first of the season. His second-career goal came in his 40^th game as a Vike.

"I don't get to score too many, so when I finally get the chance to and it stands as the winner, that's a pretty good feeling," said Libke. "That play was something we have been working on a lot lately. I've hit the post twice this season so it felt fantastic to finally get one."

Just before half, Justin Donaldson's diving header struck iron off a brilliant cross from Sagno. The teams entered the break with the Vikes in front 3-1.

The WolfPack opened the second half with Denzel Merican shaking loose Vikes defender Daniel Roke and getting a shot off. Lally dove to make the right-handed save, but the rebound came to Sagno in front. The third-year forward turned and fired in his third of the season in the 58^th minute.

Koch had a pair of chances after Sagno's marker to pull off his second-straight hat trick, but got handcuffed both times in too tight on net.

Lally shut down a Sagno give-and-go and later stood tall with Donaldson bearing in on him from the left wing in the 69^th minute.

The back-and-forth half continued in the 73^rd minute when off a Vikes free kick, Sergio Duran launched a strike that was tipped out of play by Gardner.

The WolfPack were relentless in the final 30 minutes, but the Vikes kept dumping it out of danger whenever possible, preserving their second win of the weekend.

One dump in by Libke allowed Whibley split a pair of defenders in the 83^rd minute. He launched a strike on net but was denied with a diving save by Gardner. It was easily his nicest of his six saves.

The Vikes (7-3-1) play their final home game of the regular season Thursday, Oct. 10, when they host the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (6-1-2) at Centennial Stadium. If you're unable to make it to the stadium, catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv, presented by CO-OP.