University of Victoria Vikes spoil UFV Cascades Home Opener, 3-1, at Bateman Park.

The Cascades started the match with the enthusiasm that would be expected of a team returning home after basically a month on the road, they controlled the play early and had the first great opportunity to score six minutes in as veteran midfielder Ellen Kuyer, Surrey, BC just missed knocking the ball wide of the Vikes’ net.  The Cascades continued to pressure Victoria’s defense but could not slip the ball past Victoria’s goalkeeper Stephanie Parker, Chemainus, BC.  Midway through the first half, Victoria came to life and the Vikes started to create excellent chances to score the match’s first goal.  Twice in a five minute span Victoria beat UFV’s goalkeeper Chantelle Biagioni, Pitt Meadows, BC but rookie defender Maddie Vaughan, Langley, BC saved the ball on the Cascades goal line from going into the net preserving the scoreless match at halftime.  Biagoni also stopped a point blank shot seconds before halftime.

In the second half, the Vikes continued to pressure the Cascades defense peppering UFV with shots from all over, their persistence paid off as a Victoria shot deflected off an UFV defender and beat Biagioni to give Victoria the one goal lead.  The Vikes kept coming and two minutes later Jamie Delia, Calgary, Alberta scored Victoria’s second goal on an assist from Tessa Margetts, Victoria, BC.  The two goals by Victoria seemed to bring UFV back to life and the Cascades offense went to work and kept pressuring the Vikes defense until rookie Victoria native Danielle de Bruin scored her first CWUAA/CIS career goal to put UFV right back into the match.

The next ten minutes saw both teams play excellent soccer and each have opportunities to score.  With five minutes remaining Victoria’s Maryse Reichgeld, North Vancouver, BC saved the afternoon for the Vikes as she stopped a shot on the Victoria goal line after Parker was beaten on a Cascade corner kick.  The referee awarded Victoria a penalty shot in extra time and Kaitlyn Hunter, Vancouver, BC shot the ball past Biagioni to clinch Victoria’s first regular season win.

“It was a good learning experience for our team, ” said UFV Cascades Captain Megan Webster, Abbotsford, BC  “It was nice to play at home today, in front of family, friends and Cascade supporters.”

Reichgeld was named Victoria’s player of the match, while Andrea McLachlan, Maple Ridge, BC received the Cascades player of the match honors.

Victoria   0  3  =  3

UFV        0  1  =  1

First Half:

No scoring

Second Half:

50:00  Victoria  (Own Goal)

52:00  Victoria  Delia (Margetts)

66:00  UFV       de Bruin (McLachlan)

90:00  Victoria  Hunter (P Kick)

Victoria:  S Parker  Win  (Saves  2)

UFV:       C Biagioni Loss (Saves  3)

Victoria:  5 / UFV:  3

Victoria  2/ UFV  6

Victoria:  23 M Reichgeld

UFV:       10 A McLachlan