The University of Victoria Vikes mens soccer season came to a skidding halt Friday morning on a frozen Foote Field in Edmonton.
The defending national champions fell 2-0 to the Saskatchewan Huskies on an icy pitch surrounded by three- to four-foot snowbanks on the east side of the University of Alberta facility at the Canada West championship.
Bobbi Nicholat pounced on a loose ball off a Saskatchewan free kick in the 43rd minute, pounding home a cross that bounced around, eluding Vikes keeper Elliot Mitrou in his box. Brett Levis then headed in a perfect cross from Brandon Holmes in the 90th minute for insurance for the Huskies.
It was very icy conditions out there today difficult for both teams to play on, Vikes coach Bruce Wilson said. Credit to our team today though; we kept on battling.
Mitrou and opposing keeper Mark Diakiw each made five saves on the cold, grey morning. Cam Hundal led the Vikes with a pair of shots on goal, but Victoria failed to cash in on scoring opportunities on the slick turf. They had 13 shots directed at the net.
Their best chance may have come in the first 15 minutes as Wesley Barretts curling offering from a free kick went untouched by several Vikes and was eventually swallowed up by Diakiw.
We outshot them. We outcornered them. We just didnt score, Wilson said.
The two were originally slated to open play in the six-team event Thursday, but snow and cold forced postponement to Friday.
Before the game, the Vikes had three players named as Canada West all-stars. Fourth-year defender Gavin Barrett and second-year midfielder Hundal were added to the second team. Fourth-year defender Andrew Ravenhill made the first team.
Meanwhile, in womens play, the Vikes defeated the UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 in penalty kicks (Bijou Leavins with the winner) in Canada West semifinal play late Friday to advance to todays 6 p.m. final against Trinity Western University.
Its all about getting ready and preparing for the national championships and wanting to win the league, Vikes coach Tracy David said beforehand.
We want to win the Canada West championship this weekend, and thats what we are focusing on. We want to win this and we want to win nationals, too.
The Vikes host the CIS national championship next week.
Five members of the Vikes womens team were named all-stars fourth-year defender Brigitte Greig and third-year midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki were placed on the first team, while fifth-year keeper Stephanie Parker, fourth-year midfielder Jacqueline Harrison and sophomore forward Emma Greig were named to the second team.
VIKES NEWS: The Vikes womens field hockey team dropped its third straight at nationals in Toronto on Friday, losing 3-1 to the Western Mustangs. Amanda Watson had the lone goal for Victoria, which faces the University of Toronto this morning in final round-robin play.
