VICTORIA – A scoreless draw doesn't completely erase the memories of last year's playoff heartbreak, but at least the University of Victoria Vikes salvaged one point out of Friday night's rematch at Centennial Stadium.

For the Vikes, it was their first look at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies after they knocked them out of the Canada West play-in game last fall.

"It's not a fun memory to look back on, but we definitely looked back on that (elimination) game as a motivating factor coming into tonight and we wanted to come out strong," said Vikes forward Kiara Kilbey.

Georgia Bignold attempted a volley 12 minutes in, but got blocked by Kalli Cowles. Her rebound came out to Kiara Kilbey, but Taneil Gay smothered any possible scoring chances.

Playing her first home game of the season, fifth-year forward Kilbey was a force to be reckoned with.

Twelve minutes later, Trinity Kettyls raced down the left side line for the Vikes and centred a header for Kilbey, but she couldn't find a solid connection. Kilbey stayed with the play and had another crack at it, but fourth-year keeper Jadyn Steinhauer swallowed up the attempt.

"We worked hard all week. We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game. We knew we had to come out flying and running at them, and we did that. We created a lot of chances early, had them on their heels early and it would have been nice to put one of those chances in," said Kilbey.

Four minutes before half, the Vikes best opportunity came when Kilbey played the role of setup man instead of finisher. She was the pivot on a give-and-go entering the Huskies' zone with Brea Christie. The third-year defender had a clean look at the goal, but sailed it a few inches high.

A left-footed strike and another header by Kilbey led the way for the Vikes, by Steinhauer answered every attempt and made the required four first half saves.

An injury early in the second half tacked on more than double digits of injury time after the first 90 and the Huskies nearly stole three points.

After only making a pair of routine saves in the first half, Vikes keeper Puck Louwes saved her best work for the end. Deep into stoppage time, McKenna Olson took the corner for the Huskies and found the top of Payton Izsak's head. The header rocketed towards the top of the net, but Louwes sprung out of her position to deflect it out of play.

"I've played Puck a long time and she still finds way to blow my mind with some of the stops she saves us with," said Kilbey.

A few minutes later, Louwes pounced on a hard baseline shot from Jade Houmphanh.

One final rush for the Vikes came following those saves when Kilbey slammed on the breaks, went around Hannah Zdunich-Costa and tried to curl one from the end line, but fired it just wide.

The Vikes turn around and host the University of Regina Cougars (1-2-1) tomorrow night (5 p.m.) 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.