It took 120 minutes and a shootout, but the University of Victoria Vikes women’s soccer team finally put away the pesky University of the Fraser Valley Cascades to advance in the Canada West play-in game and earn a 2-1 win on Saturday (Oct. 21).
The teams played 90 minutes of scoreless soccer in the provincial capital to force the game into extra time. The Vikes then broke the game open when Emma Salik headed a long cross from Adrianna Hilton in the 105th minute.
Vikes take the lead in the 105th minute. Still 15 to go pic.twitter.com/UvJNQFMuyR
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 21, 2023
UFV refused to go away though and at the very last minute a free kick found Kiana Langston in the box and she directed the ball in. That goal sent the game to a shootout.
Super clutch goal by Kiana Langston off a free kick. Tie game in the dying moments and we are probably now heading to a shootout pic.twitter.com/gFbKjFtUAG
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 21, 2023
The Cascades switched goalkeepers just prior to the shootout, putting in Addison Chen in place of Kareena Sahota. However it was Vikes goalkeeper Kayley Lidstone who proved to be the difference maker, as she made one big stop and the Cascades hit a crossbar. Chen was unable to make any saves and the Vikes clinched the win.
Sahota was excellent for the Cascades, making 10 saves and facing 24 shots throughout the game. She made several key saves to send the game to extra time. UFV managed five shots on goal and directed seven to the net.
Big save by UFV's Sahota to keep the game scoreless. Vikes are pressing pic.twitter.com/EBD1ZWkvaV
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 21, 2023
Vikes ring one off the crossbar, but the ball is eventually cleared. Close call there as the Vikes are pushing pic.twitter.com/UERVUhNWdV
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 21, 2023
Best chance for UFV on a long distance shot that fooled the Victoria keeper pic.twitter.com/XKPuzhhiOK
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 21, 2023
Stepping up to the line first for the Cascades during penalty kicks, Brooklyn Franzon’s shot was saved by Lidstone. In turn, Erin Jensen scored on the first opportunity for the Vikes to take a 1-0 lead. A make from UFV’s Alanna Sydenham and one from Victoria’s Brianne McLeish brought the tally to 2-1 in UVic’s favour. Sealing the win, a make from the Vikes’ Tannis McKay and Lidstone saves on the shots of Rylan Gray and Madison Telmer finalized the shootout at 3-1 for the home side.
“I knew it was going to be a battle, and our young squad came here and did that until the end of the game,” noted Cascades head coach Ari Adams. “We have a lot of rookies that have played a lot of minutes and made key contributions this year, so the future looks promising for this group. It’s unfortunate to lose in a shootout, but UVic came out on the winning end today.”
“That was a tough, tough game,” said Vikes head coach Tracy David. “Credit to Fraser Valley, they made it very, very difficult and did really well in pushing us until the final minute of overtime. I’m proud of our players for persevering through this, they showed a lot of grit and determination, and we’re going to need that going forward.”
Victoria now heads to Edmonton to take on the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday (Oct. 28).