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The highly successful soccer season continues for coach Tracy David鈥檚 UVic Vikes women鈥檚 program.
A 1-0 victory over the Calgary Dinos on Sunday at Centennial Stadium has propelled the group into the sa国际传媒 West Final 4 tournament, next Friday to Sunday in Langley. The Vikes will face the MacEwan Griffins of Edmonton in one semifinal at 2:30 p.m. while the Trinity Western Spartans face the UBC Thunderbirds in the other at 5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the Vikes used an early goal from Caitlin Millham and then rode the goalkeeping of Puck Louwes to the victory.
鈥淲e were hungry, aggressive and going for the win,鈥� David said of her team鈥檚 first-half performance. 鈥淲e knew what this game meant and that鈥檚 how we played.鈥�
The Dinos pressed hard in the second half, but failed to find the equalizer.
Millham鈥檚 goal came after some wonderful footwork by Kiara Kilbey deep inside the Calgary 18-yard box that led to an easy tap-in for Millham.
鈥淜ilbey did all the work on that one, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and the ball went in off my foot,鈥� Millham said.
Louwes made several strong saves throughout as she posted her 11th shutout of the season for the Vikes, who continue to fend off challengers. Louwes鈥� best efforts came off a Maddison Fritze strike after a turnover by the Vikes鈥� defence, and a header from Damiane Sawatzky, in which the 鈥檏eeper quickly moved to her right to safely secure the offering.
鈥淚n the first half, UVic was exceptional and we struggled to deal with them,鈥� said Dinos head coach Troye Flannery, who also received a strong effort from 鈥檏eeper Lauren Houghton.
鈥淲e made a couple tactical changes at halftime that suited us. I thought we were really good in the second half, and if we string that performance out for two halves, then it could have been a different day.鈥�
The day belonged to the Vikes, however, who now press forward in hopes of reaching the nationals.
鈥淲e are a good team and I think our players need to believe that. They need to believe that we can win,鈥� David said. 鈥淲e want to get to a national championship and that鈥檚 what the next game is all about.鈥�
That belief has obviously carried through to the players.
鈥淲e are so relieved and so happy. We have been trying to take it one step at a time. But, obviously, this was our goal, and you just can鈥檛 keep nationals out of our hearts right now,鈥� Millham said.
