by Ali Baggott, Vikes Communications
VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes women's field hockey team picked up their third win of the Canada West season after they dropped the visiting Calgary Dinos 6-0 on Oct. 21 to improve to a 3-3-1 record. The Dinos now drop to 0-7 as both teams will rematch tomorrow for the final game of the season.
Pride was the only thing on the line as the lone spot to nationals was already claimed by UBC two weeks earlier. Five different scorers contributed today including two from Lindsay Cole and one from each of Stefanie Langkammer, Anna Mollenhauer, Sophia Murray and Delaney Booker. Larissa Piva and Robin Fleming split the shoutout.
"I think for the first part of the first half we played with good intensity and moved the ball and we really played Vikes hockey," said Lynne Beecroft, Vikes head coach, highlighting the team hockey that was on display. "We let the ball do the work and supported one and other. A lot of people were coming back to help out and you get rewarded for that."
Calgary did well to put the Vikes on their heels in the first few minutes of the game but the home side quickly grouped together and found their structure. A right side attack allowed Kristina Walters-Shumka to send a hard ball into the circle. Vikes forward Sophia Murray collected it well and fired a back-hand shot from close range. Dinos keeper Madison Arbuckle made the save but a waiting Langkammer calmly redirected the rebound to goal for a 1-0 Vikes lead. Fourth-year Vikes midfielder Cole was rewarded for her own give-and-go passing play as she finished off the play she started for a 2-0 Victoria lead in the seventh minute.
The Calgary defence were hemmed in their end but they congested their circle well to deny the Vikes much room. Victoria had seven penalty corner chances but were unable to convert. Dinos defenders Sabrina Wong and Marion Arnott were key in organizing the Calgary backfield all game.
The Dinos had an attacking opportunity off some aggressive pressure by Jenna Bower but the Vikes stymied any chance at goal.
In the 28th minute, Mollenhauer ran the ball down the left side and along the baseline. The first-year defender unleashed a wicked reverse-stick shot from the end line and from an impossible angle lifted the Vikes 3-0. Just three minutes later Cole smashed home a loose ball for her second and the Vikes' fourth goal to lift Victoria up 4-0 before.
Calgary were the first on attack in the second half as Michelle Patterson and Lauren Hayes forced a save out of second-half keeper Fleming in the early seconds.
Murray lifted the Vikes 5-0 in free play from the left side as displayed some nice one-on-one skills only to then slip the ball short side past Arbuckle for her first goal of the season. On their second corner of the half Cole's shot hit the post and bounced to the opposite of the net where Delaney Booker converted for a 6-0 advantage in the 50th minute.
Calgary's work ethic didn't die down as some good pressure from Danica Heath stripped last defender back Hannah Craig and put the Vikes in panic and resulting in Georgia Booker being sent off with a green card for a late challenge. With the advantage Dinos forward Bower was able to gain the Vikes circle but her dangerous pass across couldn't find a Calgary stick.
The Dinos had a promising opportunity in the 63rd minute when a long ball found the stick of Courtney Andrews deep in the Vikes circle but she couldn't beat the low stick of Vikes defender Emily Wong. The game was left at 6-0 in favour of Victoria.
"I'm disappointed and we didn't really play up to our standard today," said Peter Taylor, Dinos field hockey head coach. "In previous games and the last time the Vikes came to us we played much better and today we just didn't bring it so we are looking forward to tomorrow to bounce back."
The Vikes and Dinos will re-match again tomorrow, Oct. 22, at 11:00 a.m. at the Vikes field hockey turf. The Canada West major awards and all-stars will be presented after the match. For schedule, scores and more information visit canadawest.org.
"This whole week of training the girls trained not like we were just playing Calgary," added Beecroft whose 35th season of Canada West play will wrap up tomorrow. "They trained like we were going to nationals and we still want to get better and I think that is awesome and makes me proud."
SCORING SUMMARY
CGY 0 – 0 : 0
VIC 4 – 2 : 6
GOAL SCORERS
VIC - #9 Stefanie Langkammer, FG, 5', 1-0 VIC
VIC - #13 Lindsay Cole, FG, 7', 2-0 UVIC
VIC - #6 Anna Mollenhauer, FG, 28', 3-0 UVIC
VIC - #13 Lindsay Cole, FG, 31', 4-0 UVIC
VIC - #21 Sophia Murray, FG, 46', 5-0 UVIC
VIC - #8 Delaney Booker, FG, 50', 6-0 UVIC
GOALKEEPERS
CGY – Madison Arbuckle, 70 MP, 46 GA, 9 saves
VIC – Larissa Piva 35 MP, 0 GA, 1 save
VIC – Robin Fleming, 35 MP, 0 GA, 1 save
CARDS
VIC – #21 Sophia Murray, 18', GC
VIC – #21 Sophia Murray, 36', YC
VIC – #14 Georgia Booker, 53', GC