VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team overcame a two-goal deficit thanks to a strong offensive performance from their seniors on Sept. 12. The home side came back to win 5-3 over the visiting  UNBC Timberwolves to sweep the weekend and improve their record to 2-0-1, while UNBC are now 0-2.

The Vikes benefited from goals from Craig Gorman, Sam Prette, Gareth Langdon, Keevan Webb and Dominic Colantonio, while fourth-year keeper Noah Pawlowski logged seven shots tonight. Both Gorman and Webb have scored as many goals as games played with Gorman logging three and Webb with two.

Despite not coming away with points this weekend the UNBC Timberwolves showed huge gains from Friday night's 3-0 loss, bouncing back with an incredible performance up until mid-way through the second half. Keeper Tyrone Venhola faced 25 shots, 12 on target, and made seven saves in the game. Second-year striker Matt Jubinville caused most of the havoc in the Vikes defensive box, scoring two goals in the game. Team mate Francesco Bartolillo buried a penalty kick for the team's first goal today as the Timberwolves made good on three of their four shots on goal.

The Vikes got the go-ahead goal early on for the second-straight game with Gorman tallying his third goal in as many games. The fifth-year Vike struck from distance to get the Vikes up 1-0, beating Venhola in the 11^th minute of play.

Following the opening goal the Timberwolves seemed to be revived with energy as a new-formed confidence took over and Jubinville started combining well with fellow Timberwolves striker Greg Meconse.

The Timberwolves were rewarded for their pressure after a long ball into the box forced a penalty kick in the 30^th minute. Bartolillo blasted a shot from the spot, beating Pawlowski on the right side of the net to tie the game 1-1.

Fifth years Cam Hundal and Gorman made a tactical swap late in the opening half, freeing up Hundal on the right side to cut the ball back to his left foot and ring a shot off the cross bar. The rebounding ball found the foot of Gorman whose resulting shot couldn't beat Venhola in 39^th minute.

In the 40^th minute Dominic Colantonio was served a caution in the middle of the park and the resulting free kick sparked UNBC's go-ahead goal. Jubinville capitalized on the distance service with a mid-air strike from in tight to lift the Timberwolves up 2-1, a score line that stood through to half time.

The second half was a scoring thriller from the 63^rd minute onward as the Vikes came back from a two-goal deficit with a boost from their seniors. UNBC was the first to extend their lead, going up 3-1 on another Jubinville goal. The Prince George native shook off his Vikes defender and with great vision curled a ball past Pawlowski to silence the crowd.

Minutes later the Vikes responded as fourth-year striker Prette capitalized on a UNBC defensive miscue. The Victoria native won the foot race to the loose ball, carrying it to his right, and beating Venhola with a shot on the ground. Trailing by one goal now, down 3-2, the Vikes continued to look to their senior experience to complete their come back.

The home side was rewarded as an unexpected loose ball allowed Langdon an open look from distance in the 66^th minute. The third-year midfielder cut through the middle of the park but quickly haulted up to use the side of his right foot to fool Venhola and tie the game 3-3.

Momentum shifted entirely for Victoria as another two goals came, first from a set piece in the 69^th minute. Colantonio's free kick from the left side of the 18-yard-box found the well-timed head of third-year transfer Webb, who scored his second goal in as many games to send the Vikes up 4-3.

Colantonio extended the Vikes' lead to two goals after a loose ball at the top of the six-yard-box gave the fifth year his first goal of the season. Colantonio's shot, though not hard, skipped just enough to deflect off Venhola and in, sending Victoria up 5-3 in the 76^th minute.

Late Vikes substitute and rookie Isaac Koch had back-to-back chances from the right side of the pitch ringing two shots off the post seconds apart in the 89^th minute of play. Despite forcing a few more saves out of UNBC's Venhola in the final minutes of play, the Vikes were unable to put any more on the board and took their come-back win with a final score of 5-3.

Victoria are now 2-0-1 in the Canada West, while the UNBC Timberwolves drop to 0-2. Up next the Vikes will travel to the mainland to play Trinity Western and Fraser Valley on the road, Sept. 18-19, while the UNBC Timerwolves will play UBC Okanagan on the road for a double header. All games will be broadcast live at canadawest.tv with live stats also available at canadawest.org.

SCORING SUMMARY

UNBC: 2 – 1 : 3

UVIC: 1 – 4 : 5

SCORING LEADERS

UNBC: Francesco Bartolillo (30' PK), Matt Jubinville (40')

UVIC: Craig Gorman (11'), Sam Prette (64'), Gareth Langdon (65'), Keevan Webb (69'), Dominic Colantonio (76')

GAME MVPs

UNBC: Matt Jubinville

UVIC: Sam Prette

Story: Ali Lee, Vikes Communications (govikesgo.com)

Photo: APShutter.com