A 1-1 tie with the Victoria Vikes on Saturday meant the University of the Fraser Valley women’s soccer team would fall just shy of earning a home playoff date, but they gained a great deal of confidence by posting a solid result on the road against an elite opponent.
Needing nothing less than a victory to overtake the CIS No. 6-ranked Vikes for second place in the Pacific Division of Canada West, the CIS No. 10-ranked Cascades took the lead in the 22nd minute on a goal by Danica Kump.
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The hosts, though, responded with a goal of their own via Emma Grieg in the 28th, and neither team was able to dent the twine from that point on.
The Cascades (7-2-3) will make a return trip to the provincial capital next Saturday, Oct. 25, to face the Vikes (8-1-3) in the Canada West quarter-finals (5 p.m. start).
“I’m really proud of the girls,” UFV head coach Rob Giesbrecht said. “UVic is a great team, and it’s not easy to come here and get a result. We gained some confidence today – we’re not going to come back here fearful. We’re going to come with a plan to play our game and take it to them.”
In the first half, the Vikes directed 15 shots at goal compared to four by the Cascades, but keeper Kayla Klim sparkled between the pipes for UFV.
“We started out a little bit flat and absorbed some pressure,” Giesbrecht said. “They have some sensational attacking players, and we gave them too much time and space. Kayla Klim was spectacular.”
Defender Tristan Corneil started the play that led to the game’s first goal – her long ball was flicked on by Shelby Beck and into Kump’s path, and she slotted the ball past Vikes keeper Meaghan Storie.
“She’s such a great finisher,” Giesbrecht said of Kump. “She’s played most of the season out wide, but she did an outstanding job up top today.”
Grieg’s goal sent the teams to the locker room tied, and the Cascades came out with renewed focus after the break. Jade Palm hit the crossbar off a corner kick, and Kump had a chance from close range but was stymied by Storie.
It was the second tie between UFV and UVic this season – the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw at Abbotsford Senior Secondary on Oct. 11.
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