Needing a victory to secure a home Canada West playoff spot, the University of Victoria Vikes women’s soccer team fell short on Saturday night by way of a 2-2 tie with the University of Fraser Valley Cascades at Centennial Stadium.
The Cascades earn the third and final home berth and will play host to the Vikes on Saturday in quarter-final action.
Amanda Carruthers’s goal in the 81st minute was the dagger to the heart as the Vikes were hanging on to a 2-1 lead. Brittney Zacharuk’s effort, just nine minutes in, gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The game turned shortly afterward as Emily Lieuwen pounced on a loose ball for Victoria in the 14th minute. Stephanie Badilla-Gutierrez made it 2-1 to the Vikes with a rocket that went in off the crossbar seven minutes before the half-time break.
The Vikes couldn’t quite hang on and will have to face the Cascades on their tighter turf field, which is an advantage to the home side.
“We’re disappointed, very disappointed,” said Vikes coach Tracy David.
“We wanted to host and I thought that was within our capabilities. I still feel that way, but we have another crack at them.”
The two teams also tied 0-0 at UFV earlier this season.
“At least we’re there and we’ve given ourselves another chance,” David said.
The Cascades — who finished 8-5-1, ahead of Victoria’s 7-4-3 — had a chance to win it outright on Saturday in the 89th minute, but Shelby Beck’s penalty kick went wide of Vikes keeper Meaghan Storie’s net.
On the men’s side, the Vikes easily defeated Trinity Western 5-1 and will be at home on the weekend to open the playoffs on Friday night against the Mount Royal Cougars.
Cam Hundal scored twice and Michael Baart, Dominic Colantonio and Isaac Koch added one goal each for Victoria. Leighton Johnson replied for Trinity Western.
In women’s field hockey play, Andrea Jones scored the lone goal as Victoria blanked Calgary 1-0 as the Vikes improve to 6-0-1 in Canada West play while the Dinos are winless at 0-7. The two will meet again today at 11 a.m.
The Vikes women’s basketball team will also play host to Ryerson University this morning at 11 at CARSA gym.
Meanwhile in men’s basketball play, the Vikes wrapped up a pre-season trip to Ontario with a 71-65 win over the Guelph Gryphons 71-65. Jordan Charles had a game-high 19 points.
Also today, the Vikes’ women’s rugby team will meet Lethbridge in the Canada West final at noon Pacific time in Edmonton.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter/tc_vicsports
