VANCOUVER – In what seemed to be a nearly identical match from the day before, the two most successful women's field hockey programs in Canada played to a 0-0 draw.
 
"They are a good side," said UBC head coach Poonam Sandhu following the second half of the weekend doubleheader with the Vikes. "They hustle and they're aggressive."
 
What you could credit to nerves yesterday did not seem to be the case today. Both teams made crisp and precise passes, turnovers were more due to the relentless defence on both sides, and the scoring opportunities were plentiful.
 
The first big scoring chance of the game went to the Vikes (1-0-3). Off a corner, the ball hit the post and kicked wide. UBC (2-0-2) executed a perfect transition but the resulting shot could not find the back of the net.
 
UBC managed another opportunity shortly after when fourth year forward Margaret Pham had a clear go at the net, but once again the bright play of Vikes goalie Robin Fleming kept the game scoreless at the half.
 
The second half was when things started to open up. Several minutes in, UBC was rewarded with another corner and 'Birds defender Sara Goodman got a great shot off, but a Vikings player put her body on the line to keep the game at zeros. 
 
Later on in the half, the Vikes broke out on a 2-on-1. With UBC goalie Ava Aminbakhsh making a sprawling effort, the ball landed on the stick of a Vikes player, but she could not bury the golden opportunity.
 
The rest of the half went along with the teams exchanging corner chances, but it was not until the final minute of play when the 'Birds broke out on a 2-on-1 of their own. Trying to get a goal in front of a loud home crowd, the 'Birds got a great shot off but the ball rolled just wide.
 
 "I think today we stuck with our gameplan, we executed well, our shape looked really great and the girls were just able to find the connections," Sandhu said of her team's effort after the game.
 
The 'Birds are back in action next weekend as they play host to the visiting Calgary Dinos while the Vikes have the next three weeks off before they take on the Dinos on October 19th and 20^th in Victoria.

UVic 0-0—0
UBC 0-0—0
 
SCORING SUMMARY
No scoring
 
GOALKEEPERS
UVIC – Robin Fleming, 60 MP, 0 GA
UBC – Hannah Rumble, 30 MP, 0 GA
UBC – Ava Aminbakhsh, 30 MP, 0 GA
 
CARDS
No cards