VICTORIA – Without two of their key veterans, it would have been easy for the University of Victoria Vikes to give in when they coughed up two early markers against the defending Canada West champions.

But a breather late in the first half gave the Vikes a chance to regroup and they battled back to draw even. Unfortunately for the 145 fans in attendance, the defending conference champs proved to be too powerful and they added a late goal to take a 3-2 victory Saturday night at Centennial Stadium.

"We showed a lot of character, grit and determination today. Trinity is at the very top of our sport and they usually go to nationals each year. If you're down 2-0 in the first 15 minutes, the game is usually over," said Vikes Head Coach Tracy David. "I thought we did a great job to battle back and make it interesting."

Coming off a 0-0 draw in their Canada West opener yesterday, the Spartans were anxious to get on the attack against the Vikes. 

Nicole Bolder was the beneficiary of a Vikes' turnover, as she tapped in her first of the season through a couple defenders near the goal in the 16^th minute. Slightly more than one minute later, the Vikes couldn't contain a long ball by the Spartans. The ball bounced to Kathryn Harvey, who drilled her first of the season.

It appeared as if the defending Canada West champion Spartans were going to run away with things early in the first half.

The Spartans put on a clinic early in the first half with the ball movement from their midfielders. But after they led 2-0, there was a stoppage in play for an injured player in the 24^th minute. During that time, Vikes Head Coach Tracy David called her players over for some counseling. From that point on, the Vikes were a different team.

Georgia Bignold got going for the Vikes with some nice passing through the middle, as she found Emma Skalik in the middle of the field. Skalik turned and fired, but Hannah Miller, who was fresh off a shutout in her season opener, kept the ball out for one of her five saves.

"We put in a good fight all game and that was something we lacked in the preseason. Something clicked after that break and we got fired up pretty quickly. We all believed that we could come back," said Bignold.

The Vikes broke through in the 39^th minute after Trinity Kettyls stole the ball in the Spartans' zone. She launched one from outside the 18-yard box, over Miller and into the bar of the net.

Less than a minute before half, Bignold took a corner. Her shot rattled around near the goal line before popping back out to her to the right of the net. She wasted not time and blasted her first of the season.

"I didn't think the ball was going to come back to me, but I saw it coming and I knew I had to touch it quickly," recalled Bignold. "Luckily enough it found its way to the back of the net."

Starting from scratch in the second half, the Spartans came out hot once again. But once again, fifth-year keeper Puck Louwes was working hard to keep the Vikes in it.

Syd Duquette took a corner in the 64^th minute and the Spartans had a pair of chances to take the lead, but Louwes punched out two attempts inside the goal crease and it was eventually swept out of danger by Dari Cote.

With 18 minutes remaining, the Spartans pushed again on a rush by Charity Field. She crossed it over to Harvey, but Louwes was one step ahead and smothered the in-tight attempt.

Three minutes later, the Hutchinson took a free kick for the Spartans. Her bombing shot was headed in close by Elizabeth Hicks, but Louwes was there once again to tip it out of play.
 
Eventually, the Spartans found a way to get it done in the 81st minute when Jenaya Robertson touched in a free kick from midfield past Louwes.

"We still were able to generate four or five headers at the end. Credit their keeper, I'm not too sure how a few of those went in -  I'll have to go check the tape," said David.

Avneet Rai took five corners late in the second half for the Vikes but they couldn't burry any. The closest they came was when Mackenzie Ringrose took a swing at a rebound by the right post but couldn't connect.

The Vikes are on the road in Alberta next weekend to take on the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (0-0-1) and the Mount Royal University Cougars (0-0-0).

The Spartans head home next weekend to host the University of Winnipeg Wesmen (0-2-0) (Sept. 13) and the University of Manitoba Bisons (Sept. 14).