CALGARY - The Mount Royal University Cougars hosted the University of Victoria Vikes to a heated game on Sunday afternoon. The Vikes came away with a 3-0 victory. 

Victoria was fresh off their victory over the Pronghorns on Saturday in Lethbridge. The Cougars were determined to take back their opening weekend after a defeat against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. 

For the first five minutes of the game, Victoria maintained control of the field until the Cougars swept the ball away to the visitor's zone. Mount Royal's Jullien Ramirez snuck a shot on net without success as the Vikes keeper Puck Louwes made the first save of the game. 

The two teams vied for control for the better part of the first half.

Playing her second game back after returning from injury, Kiara Kilbey scored her first goal of the season when she slid one past Cougars keeper Katrina Greenlay, who came out to challenge the play in the 24th minute.

Greenley got caught out of position again in the 32nd minute, as Vikes forward Georgia Bignold chipped in her second tally of the season.

Just after the 40 minute mark, Mount Royal's Quinn Hardstaff accidentally headed the ball into her own net after it was kicked by Victoria's Rachel Baird who was then credited with the goal. Their 3-0 lead was sustained into the halftime. 

Mount Royal was determined to make a difference in the second half, pulling some fierce offensive moves that awarded four shots on Victoria's net in less than five minutes. However, Victoria was able to swiftly regain control of the ball for a few shots of their own. Both teams were pushing hard against defenses to gain the upper hand. 

Louwes registered six saves for her second shutout of the season.

With just over ten minutes remaining, tensions were running high. Two Cougars went down in a tangle, resulting in Hardstaff being substituted for Alexi Watson. Victoria's Baird went down soon after but quickly recovered as the game neared its final whistle. The Cougars were unable to narrow the gap as the game came to an end. 

The Vikes return home next weekend to host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday (5 p.m.) and the University of Regina Cougars on Saturday (5 p.m.). Both games will be at Centennial Stadium.