The UNBC Timberwolves (0-2-0) wrapped up their opening weekend of regular season games Sunday with a 4-1 loss to the Vikes in Victoria.
The TWolves got their offense from veteran Claire Turner who converted off a Kjera Hayman rebound 12 minutes to the match to record the first goal of the season for UNBC.
Ruby Nicholas paced the Vikes attack with a goal and an assist while her younger sister Claire also found the scoresheet for the first time. Abby McDonald and Sophie Fingarson rounded out the scoring for the Vikes who outshot UNBC 18-4 on the afternoon.
The TWolves starting 11 Sunday featured a pair of new faces as both goalkeeper Lauren Gubbels and midfielder Maresha Manulak were forced into starting duty after some key injuries in Friday’s opener at MRU. Any nerves that the pair of first years may have had were not visible in the early stages of their sunny Sunday clash on the Island.
On the other side, Victoria showed some solid poise and speed on their home turf and were rewarded in minute 10 with the opening goal of the match.
After a turnover at midfield, Abby McDonald took a pass from Taiya Scorey and placed a long shot towards the UNBC goal from five outside the 18-yard box. The ball took a weird hop and just snuck by UNBC keeper Lauren Gubbels, staking the home side to a 1-0 lead.
Neil Sedgwick’s crew found a quick answer though two minutes later.
Off a free kick, Kjera Hayman placed a wonderful bending ball over top of four Vikes defenders. Goalkeeper Kayley Lidstone made the save but fumbled the rebound long enough for veteran Claire Turner to pounce on it. From there, Turner made no mistake securing her first of the season and fourth career goal as a Timberwolf.
The goal created some major momentum for UNBC who played stride-for-stride with the Vikes, who despite outshooting UNBC 6-1 by the 30-minute mark, were unable to solve the rookie Gubbels.
Gubbels got some major help in the 23rd minute from Kambria Mellum who made an incredible defensive stop as the last line of defense, preventing a goal from Raina Hagel.
As time ticked away in the first half, both teams settled into their systems. The TWolves did not back down physically – especially in the 40th minute when Hayman bodied a pair of Victoria forwards down to the turf but did so without being penalized. In fact, the TWolves went without a single penalty in the first half, towing the right line of aggressiveness without getting on the wrong side of the officials.
For Hayman’s efforts at both sides of the field, she earned Mr. Mike’s Player of the Game honours.
At halftime, the score remained 1-1. Shots on target favoured Victoria 7-1 and each team had three corner kick opportunities.
The home side snatched momentum back three minutes into the second half when Claire Nicholas won a race to a loose ball along the right side of the penalty area. From there, the first-year striker snuck a low shot through traffic and past Gubbels for her first ever Canada West goal. Her older sister Ruby Nicholas assisted on the play.
Sophie Fingarson extended the Vikes lead in the 57th minute when she went across her body and placed the ball ‘just’ past the diving Gubbels for her first of the season.
Ten minutes later, Ruby Nicholas joined her sister on the scoresheet when she bent a free-kick over the defenders and past Gubbels for her second of the season.
One minute later Kambria Mellum was ejected from the match for DOGSO – denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity, leaving UNBC down a player for the remainder of the match.
When 90 minutes had come and gone, the final score read 4-1 for Victoria, putting UNBC at 0-2 for the young season.
Neil Sedgwick’s crew now returns home for a pair of home games next weekend against TRU (Friday – 5 PM) and UBCO (Sunday - Noon).
