VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team were on track for a weekend sweep until Trinity Western's Jessica King served a late tying goal to spoil the weekend. The long-time rivals drew 1-1 on Sept. 6 at Centennial Stadium to both sit a top the Canada West Pacific Division with 1-0-1 records.
The Vikes got on the board early with a long-range blast from fifth-year defender Cassie Dennis. The early goal set the stage as the Vikes dominated the opening frame but were unable to capitalize. Meaghan Storie logged two saves thanks to some quality defensive work by Mallory Hackett and Elise Butler. Sarah Douglas was a spark for the Vikes up front, while Emma Greig was all over the pitch but unable to get on the board.
The Spartans' performance was nearly identical to their previous night, trailing 1-0 at half, but finding life in the final stretch. King showed heroics for the second night in a row, scoring in the 82nd minute. Keeper Christina Oliverio was busy in goal, logging three saves, but constantly commanding her back line.
"I'm disappointed we gave away the two points today," said Vikes head coach Tracy David. "We had chances and we didn't convert and you can't give a team like Trinity Western hope because they will find a way to come back. They did yesterday and they did today."
Showing no signs of nerves it was the home side that seemed content to start commanding the field as not even three minutes in and striker Emma Greig forced a point-blank save out of Oliverio. It was a sign of what was to come as just two minutes later Caitlin Milham dropped a ball back perfectly for Dennis. The fifth-year let go of a shot booked for the top shelf and a slight deflection made it tough for Oliverio to get a hand on it.
Up 1-0 the Vikes didn't seem to stop as in the 12th minute both Lindsay Machin and Douglas each had a chance to double the lead. Machin struck a long-range free kick that forced an out-stretched save from Oliverio, while Douglas' left-footed shot curled just wide of the post.
Trinity Western struggled to get out of their end, despite some solid midfield play from veteran King and Jenna Di Nunzio. Keeper Oliverio minimized the rest of the damage.
In the 21st minute, Greig nearly made it two for the Vikes as she had a unpressured shot from outside of the box that touched Oliverio's hand and then rang the cross bar.
The Spartans' first real attempt came in the 28th when Di Nunzio's left-sided cross found the foot of King but her volley took a deflection and went just wide of the goal.
Krista Gommeringer was the first Spartan to put a shot on target as the five-foot-six striker spun at the top of the box and let go of a shot that was well-handled by rookie keeper Storie.
In the final minute of play, the Spartans had their only other promising chance of the half. After winning a corner kick Kristen Santema stepped up into the box but the five-foot-nine defender's shot went off the bar to leave the Spartans, for the second night in a row, down 1-0 entering the break.
In the second half play seemed to settle in midfield as fifth year Vanessa Kovacs started to help turn the Spartans around. Trinity Western weathered four-straight corner kicks in the same minute and managed to find some good possession in their backfield through the leadership of Castillo.
The Spartans had their best chance to even the scoreline in the 71st minute when Vikes defender Butler looked to pass the ball back to Storie but miscommunication allowed an open shot for the Spartans from just outside the six-yard-box. King blasted the ball just over the bar as the Spartans looked frustrated that it might come down to some late finishing, similar to the previous evening.
Just 10 minutes later and King was finally rewarded after a low cross from Danae Derksen that was faked over by Gommeringer. King's low finish stunned Storie to tie the game 1-1.
"Our first half was very promising and we had some good moments," added David. "We now have to work a lot harder on converting our chances. It is still an early weekend for us and it's still signs of good things to come."
The Vikes will now break for a weekend before travelling to face UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers on Sept. 19 and 20, respectively. The Spartans will visit the Wolfpack and the Heat on Sept. 12 and 13, respectively. All games will be streamed with live video and stats at http://canadawest.tv
SCORING SUMMARY
TWU: 0 – 1 : 1
UVIC: 1 – 0 : 1
GOAL SCORERS
TWU: Jessica King (81')
UVIC: Cassie Dennis (5')