Box Score Box Score

The University of Regina's women's soccer team got a goal from first-year forward Melanie King with 15 minutes remaining in the second half and battled to a 1-1 draw against the Victoria Vikes on Sunday afternoon at the U of R Field.

With the Cougars trailing by one, Catherine Lukan – who had just been subbed into the game – found King with a long breakaway pass. King was able to hold off a Victoria defender, then drilled a shot into the left corner for her first goal as a Cougar.

“It's always nice to make some subs and have it work out in your favour,” Cougars head coach Bob Maltman said, as he had sent King into the game just four minutes before Lukan entered the contest. “I thought we even played a bit better today than we did yesterday. We got down a goal, but we didn't deflate and continued to battle and press for the equalizer.”

The draw pushes Regina's record to 1-0-1, while Victoria moves to 0-0-2 on the season.

Regina had the best chance in the scoreless first half. In the 34th minute, Tegan Koroluk had a shot from in tight saved by Victoria keeper Tanya Jones. The rebound went to Molly Glass in front of the net, but her shot just sailed over the bar.

Victoria coach Tracy David made five substitutions at halftime, and the Vikes responded almost immediately. Just three minutes into the second half, Jacqueline Harrison took advantage of a defensive breakdown, charged down the left side, and beat Regina keeper Michelle Anderson with a low drive to put the Vikes up by one.

After King's goal, both teams had chances to grab the lead. Regina's Megan Florizone teed up a blast from about 25 yards out that sailed about three feet over the bar, and the Vikes had two good chances in injury time but weren't able to beat Anderson.

Victoria will be back in action next weekend with a Saturday match against Fraser Valley. The Cougars will be tested with a pair of road matches against No. 1-ranked Trinity Western and No. 3-ranked UBC on Friday and Saturday.

NOTES: With four points in their first two games, the Cougars are off to their best start in program history ... Meagan Cormier, Dana Renneberg, and Sarah Novak each played all 180 minutes for the Cougars this weekend.