The Martlet

The Vikes capitalized on some second-half offensive pressure to win the annual Keg Spring Cup on Sunday, March 29.

The increased pressure by the Vikes set up Kendra Flock to score the game-winning goal halfway through the second half of the contest against rival, UBC Thunderbirds.

The Vikes’ opponents responded with some late-game pressure of their own, including a scramble in front of the Vikes’ goal with less than five minutes remaining in the game, which almost resulted in an equalizer until the ball was cleared by the Vikes’ defense.

Much of the game was a well-matched contest, with neither side showing clear dominance more than briefly. Both sides had some good scoring chances throughout the match, and both goalkeepers performed well, as evidenced by the single goal.

Vikes rookie goalkeeper, Stephanie Parker, who is nominated for the Robert T. Wallace Shield Rookie of the Year award at the Vikes Celebration of Champions on Wednesday, April 1, recorded 12 saves in the final game of the 2008-2009 season. Parker also made 11 saves in the 2-1 win on Saturday against the Fraser Valley Cascades.

Vikes head coach Tracy David praised Parker’s first season with the Vikes, saying, “Who would have expected a first-year kid to do so well?”

David also had praise for fifth-year veteran Sarah Cameron, explaining that Cameron “was dominant in the midfield” during Sunday’s game. David also said that Cameron “has been a consistent performer” on UVic’s soccer field for the past five years.

“[Cameron] has been great,” David said.

On the offensive side, Vikes forward Kendra Flock doubled her tournament total with her game-winning goal on Sunday, after having scored the game-winning goal in the Vikes’ Saturday win. The only other Saturday goal, which tied the match at 1, was scored by third-year defender Holly Fiddick just four minutes prior to Flock’s goal.

Fiddick, who David credits as “the best center back in the CIS,” is nominated for the Female Athlete of the Year award. Other award nominees from the women’s soccer team are fourth-year defender Jackie Snell, for the Chancellor’s Award, and Cameron, for the President’s Cup.

David said that in addition to being an asset on the field, Snell works behind the scenes and “puts in a lot of time representing soccer.”

“I really believe we had the team to win the national championships,” said David, looking back on the whole season, but added that the team “just didn’t have luck” at the CIS finals in November. “It just really capped off the year for us to win the spring cup. We’re looking forward to next year.”