CALGARY – The University of Victoria Vikes opened the new-look Canada West field hockey campaign with a 3-1 win over the University of Calgary Dinos Saturday afternoon at Hawkings Field.

The battle of two young squads went the visitors' way after the Vikes took an early lead, then countered with a pair of quick tallies after the Dinos had tied it up to improve to 1-0 on the season.

“There's lots to work on, but I was really pleased because we're so young and did some really good things,” said Calgary head coach Jenn Swagar, who led her team to the national silver medal on home turf last season. “I was happy with the performance. We had chances, we had opportunities, but we just failed on the execution of them.”

Victoria got on the board first in the 18th minute when veteran Kyla Kirby converted a penalty stroke opportunity, beating Dinos 'keeper Sydney Hamm to give the Vikes a 1-0 lead. And that's where it stood at half time.

The Dinos struck right back just after the break. Less than two minutes into the second half, the Dinos received a short corner opportunity and converted, with fifth-year stalwart Carolina Romeo beating Sheriden Goodmanson to knot it up at 1-1.

The Vikes would stem any momentum the Dinos may have gotten from tying it up, though, and put it away with two goals just four minutes apart. The first, a field goal, came in the 54th minute off the stick of Kayleen VanderRee, while Rosie Beale added some insurance in the 58th minute off a short corner situation.

“We have to work on our zones, making sure we are patient and calm, because they are young and like to chance the ball,” said Swagar. “Just fixing some zone stuff and creating some calmer and more controlled emotions, working on execution of our basics, making sure our receptions are clean and crisp and our speed is there as well as using the skills. We have girls that can high-ball 50-yards; our girls have skills, they were just a little clustered and weren't always using them today.”

The two teams face off once more Sunday, with a scheduled start time of 1 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY
VIC - Kyla Kirby, PS, 18'
CGY - Carolina Romeo, PC, 47'
VIC - Kayleen VanderRee, FG, 54'
VIC - Rosie Beale, PC, 58'

GOALKEEPERS
CGY - Sydney Hamm, 70 MP, 3 GA
VIC - Sheriden Goodmanson, 70 MP, 1 GA

-UC-