Photo credit APShutter.com
VICTORIA (CIS) – The tournament host and top-seeded University of Victoria Vikes dominated the Toronto Varsity Blues 4-1 in the second round-robin game of the CIS-FHC championship, Thursday night.
A three-goal performance from fourth-year all-Canadian midfielder Kathleen Leahy was more than enough to seal the victory for the Canada West champions, while OUA titlist Toronto suffered just its second overall loss this season.
Leahy scored one goal in the first half and two in the second period, while teammate Lizzie Yates added to the four-goal start for the Vikes. Third-year keeper Larissa Piva had an outstanding performance to deny the Varsity Blues five quality opportunities.
The Blues showed their offensive power as CIS and OUA player of the year Tegan Stairs' six-foot-ten stature was hard to miss. The all-Canadian was the generator of nearly every Varsity Blues attack, while 2014 CIS MVP Amanda Woodcroft was just as potent in the middle of the pitch. Rookie defender Hilary Ziraldo paired with fourth-year Alison Lee to anchor the Toronto back line.
The Vikes put on the pressure right from the opening whistle but Toronto did well to remain composed. Leahy earned Victoria's first set-piece chance in the 11th minute as she found the foot of Tegan Stairs for the game's first penalty corner. Leahy executed the shot but it took a deflection and went just over the net.
Toronto generated several bursts of midfield attack but was unable to penetrate the Vikes' circle. A nice passing play from back to front touched four Vikes sticks before Emily Bennett was able to generate another Victoria penalty corner in the 21st minute. A direct play allowed Leahy to deceptively sweep the ball into the bottom right corner past Toronto keeper Sara Fredo for the 1-0 lead.
Off the push back Toronto found itself in the Vikes' circle seconds later and Piva was called to action on a close-range shot by Stairs. Toronto was rewarded for its ensuing pressure and earned a penalty corner in the 23rd minute. Lee executed a drag flick from the top of the battery but it missed high and stick-side of Piva.
Vikes forward Stefanie Langkammer earned another penalty corner chance in the 29th minute off the foot of Emma Wingrave but the home side squandered their opportunity and settled with the 1-0 lead at halftime.
It was a four-goal second half as just three minutes in fifth-year Alanna Macdonald made an interception at the 50-yard line in favour of the Vikes. The Coquitlam, B.C. native dished it off to a streaking Leahy up the left side and the recently named CIS Gail Wilson Award winner ran the ball nearly half the length of the pitch before turning and firing into the bottom right corner for a 2-0 Victoria lead.
Not to be discouraged, Toronto was right back the other way as Stairs fired a hard ball from outside the circle to a waiting Amanda Woodcroft, who had a timely deflection through her legs on goal. In some unbelievable fashion, Piva made the save from close range to deny the Varsity Blues.
Moments later Toronto was back at it as Piva had to make back-to-back saves on quality chances from Ally Evanyshyn and Amanda Woodcroft.
Important saves kept momentum for Toronto at bay and against the flow the Vikes were able to advance 3-0. A cross-field pass to the right side found the stick of Yates, who despite looking for a pass, was able to send an off-paced shot on the reverse towards goal. The ball bounced past Fredo to extend Victoria's lead.
With under four minutes to go, the Varsity Blues continued to push hard, earning a penalty corner through Stairs. Lee distributed from the top of the battery to Nicole Woodcroft at the stroke and her shot deflected through traffic to break Piva's shutout bid in the 68th minute.
Second-year Vike Lindsay Cole helped sweeten the home team's win by earning a penalty corner in the final minute of play. Leahy notched her third on another direct shot to give the Vikes a win and final score of 4-1.
Following the game Leahy was named the Victoria's player of the game, while OUA rookie of the year Ziraldo took the honours for Toronto after a steady defensive performance.
In the second day of round-robin action on Friday, Victoria (1-0) faces UBC (0-1) at 4 p.m. Pacific Time and Toronto takes on Guelph at 6:30 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
VIC: 1-3: 4
TOR: 0-1: 1
First half
VIC Kathleen Leahy (1), 21st minute
Second half
VIC Kathleen Leahy (2), 39th
VIC Lizzie Yates (1), 57th
TOR Nicole Woodcroft (1), 68th
VIC Kathleen Leahy (3), 70th
Goaltenders
VIC: Larissa Piva (W, 70:00, 1 GA, 1-0)
TOR: Sara Fredo (L, 70:00, 4 GA, 0-1)
Players of the game
VIC: Kathleen Leahy (Victoria, B.C.)
TOR: Hilary Ziraldo (Toronto, Ont.)
PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING
1. Victoria (Canada West champions: 7-0-1 regular season / no playoffs in CW)
2. Toronto (OUA champions: 11-1-0 regular season / 2-0 conference playoffs)
3. UBC (Canada West runners-up: 4-3-1 regular season / no playoffs in CW)
4. Guelph (OUA silver medallists: 11-1-0 regular season / 1-1 conference playoffs)
STANDINGS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times Pacific Time)
Round-robin standings
GP W L T GF GA PTS
1. Victoria 1 1 0 0 4 1 3
2. Guelph 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
3. UBC 1 0 1 0 1 2 0
4. Toronto 1 0 1 0 1 4 0
NOTE: 3 points for a win and 1 point for a tie.
Thursday, Nov. 5
16:00 Game 1: Guelph 2, UBC 1
18:30 Game 2: Victoria 4, Toronto 1
Friday, Nov. 6
16:00 Game 3: UBC vs. Victoria (CIS-SIC.tv)
18:30 Game 4: Guelph vs. Toronto (CIS-SIC.tv)
Saturday, Nov. 7
12:30 Game 5: Guelph vs. Victoria (CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Game 6: UBC vs. Toronto (CIS-SIC.tv)
Sunday, Nov. 8
12:30 Bronze medal (CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Championship final (CIS-SIC.tv)