Field Hockey 11/1/2013 9:08:00 AM

Vikes put away Gryphons in top-seed battle

Photo Credit: Armando Tura

VICTORIA (CIS) – The University of Victoria Vikes started their CIS home debut in good fashion with a 3-0 win over the No. 2-seeded Guelph Gryphons on Oct. 31. Three different Vikes tallied in an exciting game that now seeds the Vikes and UBC Thunderbirds atop the standings after day one play.

CIS All-Canadian Kathleen Leahy got the home team on the board in the 19^th minute, while Amanda Kurianowicz notched a second goal before half and Alanna Macdonald tallied in the final frame. Keeper Sheriden Goodmanson picked up where she left off after the Canada West gold-medal win earning a shut out, defending six Guelph corners and saving a penalty stroke.

The Gryphons had plenty of opportunity to tally in the early get-going as Allison Chute and Ciara Condon provided the lethal speed and offence up front, while All-Canadian Erin Houle ran miles around the pitch to be effective on both sides of the ball. Third-year defender Laura Straus was a wall for the Gryphons and keeper Kaye McLagan showed her stripes against an experienced Victoria squad.

In the opening 15 minutes of play it was all Guelph as the Gryphons found themselves with four first-half corners. In the 10^th minute Straus' penalty corner hit missed the near post and Melissa Vogl's reverse stick by inches to keep the game scoreless. Guelph's speed was an evident factor down the left side as the Vikes back line struggled to keep up.

Against the flow the Vikes capitalized as a quick free hit from outside the 23-meter area was struck straight into the circle. Two Vikes were wide open but a flurry of action in front of the goal mouth resulted in an open rebound for Leahy who swept the ball hard into the back of the net for the 1-0 Vikes lead.

The Gryphons had their best free-play chance at the 27-minute mark when a through pass up the middle of the pitch gave Condon a one-on-one chance against second-year Goodmanson in net for Victoria. Condon did all the right things to draw the Vikes net-minder out and beat her but could not finish on the open net.

The Vikes tallied one more before half when Kurianowicz tipped a Leahy short-side shot off a penalty corner in the 32^nd minute to give the home side a 2-0 edge entering the break.

In the second half the Vikes started to find their wave of momentum and maintained a lot of the possession. Guelph did not back down with some strong midfield play from Houle and gritty defensive work by Jessica Donaldson,  Jacqui Tonkin and Straus. McLagan was called to action several times in the second frame sliding out to the top of the circle to stymie a free shot for Kurianowicz in the 36th minute.

In the 56th minute Vikes defender Macdonald extended the lead to 3-0 converting on a penalty corner option that went short side to Annie Walters-Shumka.

The Vikes almost made it 4-0 when fifth-year Victoria native Kyla Kirby picked off a Guelph pass and had acres of room at the top of the circle. Kirby fired a chip shot top shelf but McLagan made a brilliant stick save to keep Guelph within three.

The Gryphons had one more sure opportunity in the second half as Leahy attempted to play Nicole Paola while she was shooting. The resulting action was a stroke for Guelph but Daniela Jelec did not muster enough power to beat Goodmanson and the Vikes finished the game with a 3-0 result and earned their first three points of the tournament.

The Vikes will turn around to face the No. 3-seeded Waterloo Warriors at 6:30 p.m. PST, while the Gryphons will face the UBC Thunderbirds, who dumped the Warriors 10-0 in the tournament opener, at 4:30 p.m. PST. Both games will be broadcast live at http://cis-sic.tv
Official championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/fh/index

SCORING SUMMARY
VIC: 2-1: 3
GUE: 0-0: 0

First half
VIC: Kathleen Leahy (1), 19^th minute
VIC: Amanda Kurianowicz (1), 32^nd minute

Second half
VIC: Alanna MacDonald (1), 56^th minute

Goaltenders
VIC: Sheriden Goodmanson (W, 70:00, 0 GA, 1-0)
GUE: Kaye McLagan (l, 70:00, 3 GA, 0-1)

Players of the game
VIC: Kathleen Leahy
GUE: Erin Houle

STANDINGS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (PACIFIC TIME)

Round-robin standings

                        GP       W         L          T          GF       GA       PTS
1. UBC             1          1          0          0          10        0          3
2. Victoria        1          1          0          0          3          0          3
3. Guelph        1          0          0          0          0          3          0
4. Waterloo      1          0          1          0          0          10        0

NOTE: 3 points for a win and 1 point for a tie.