CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos field hockey team is back in the win column.

For the first time since 2011 – a 3-0 win over the Alberta Pandas at the then-CIS National Championship – the Dinos claimed victory on Sunday afternoon at Hawkings Field. They prevailed in a shootout 5-4 against the Victoria Vikes following a 2-2 stalemate in regulation.

Kodie Kutyn, a first-year forward from Christchurch, NZL, scored the shootout winner to end the 4334-day winless drought.

"A whole lot of emotions. I think when I reflect a bit more I will probably cry," said Dinos head coach Jenn Swagar. "We're on the precipice of being really good and we just need to have the confidence that we can put the ball in the net when we shoot. Once we do that, outcomes will be a bit different, we won't be going to shootouts all the time, but this is a great win for us and the program."

The Vikes were the first to find the scoreboard in the 20th minute when Melanie Robertson was able to beat Dinos goalkeeper Alana Madrid.

Calgary responded mid-way through the second quarter as they turned to their short corner unit again for offence. Madison Gaffney's hard shot to the right side was too much for Anais Chace as it sailed past the Victoria goalkeeper to tie the game.

The defending national champions regained the lead in the 43rd minute when Chloe Langkammer lifted a shot past Madrid.

Once again though, it was late-game heroics by the Dinos that sent the game into a shootout as Gaffney converted for a second time off a corner in the 60th minute. 

"It was crazy. We were so pumped coming into today because we had a close game on Saturday and it had been a while since we did that against them," explained Gaffney. "My first year we were really strong, tying games and competing with them. We have put in a lot of work out of season to build the program we have today."

After five rounds of shooters, the game was still not decided and needed sudden death in the shootout. The Dinos and Vikes matched each other until the third round of sudden death, when Madrid denied Antonia Diuana Hodar, setting up the game-winning moment for Kutyn, who curled the ball around Chace.

"For some of them, their confidence fluctuates so much. They're totally capable athletes and they just needed to believe it," said Swagar.

The Dinos are now 1-3 as they complete the home portion of their schedule, while the Vikes fall to 1-1 through two games.

Calgary will enter a bye next week before their first road trip of the season to Victoria, beginning Sept. 30.

The Vikes travel to face the UBC Thunderbirds next weekend, Sept. 23-24.

SCORING SUMMARY
VIC – Melanie Robertson, FG, 20', 1-0 VIC
CGY – Madison Gaffney, PC, 1-1
VIC – Chloe Langkammer, FG, 2-1 VIC
CGY – Madison Gaffney, PC, 2-2

GOALKEEPERS 
VIC – Anais Chace, 60MP, 2GA
CGY – Alana Madrid, 60MP, 2GA 

CARDS
VIC – Amanda Adams, GC, 4'
CGY – Elisa Johnson, GC, 56'
VIC – Melanie Robertson, GC, 59'

SHOOTOUT
CGY – Madison Gaffney, Save | VIC – Madeline Mittelsteadt, Goal
CGY – Harnish Dhaliwal, Goal | VIC – Melanie Robertson, Save
CGY – Kodie Kutyn, Goal | VIC – Brooke Taylor, Goal
CGY – Isabella Green, Goal | VIC - Antonia Diuana Hodar, Goal
CGY – Prabhleen Grewal, Save | VIC - Anni Kleinschmidt, Save

Sudden Death
CGY – Harnish Dhaliwal, Save | VIC – Madeline Mittelsteadt, Save
CGY – Madison Gaffney, Goal | VIC – Brooke Taylor, Goal
CGY – Kodie Kutyn, Goal | VIC - Antonia Diuana Hodar, Save

-UC-