Prince George, BC - Experience led the University of Victoria Vikes to a 1-0 win over the UNBC Timberwolves Saturday afternoon at the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League fields. The Vikes advance to 4-1, while the Timberwolves fall to 1-6.

From the get-go the Timberwolves worked to keep pace with the visiting Vikes. What the young side lacked in experience they made up for in work rate. Rookie midfielder Francesco Bartolillo (Calgary, AB) started the attack with a volley that went wide, which was answered by Vikes third year Cam Stokes (Richmond, BC) whose shot woke up the Timberwolves keeper by bouncing off the crossbar.

The two sides continued to change possession moving from one end of the field to the other. Long balls from the back line put both sets of strikers in scoring positions with neither able to finish. The Vikes would end the drought in the 30th minute. Midfielder Cam Hundal (Terrace, BC) made a break down the left sideline, he crossed the ball to Tarnvir Bhandal (Victoria, BC) in box who fired the ball into the top right corner of the net. UNBC continued to play long balls overtop to their forwards but were unable to find the back of the net. The Vikes carried their 1-0 lead into the second half.

The Timberwolves started the second half strong with striker Brandon Wallace (Chilliawack, BC) getting in the box and playing balls from Conrad Rowlands (Chilliwack, BC). The rookie duo kept the Vikes keeper on his toes for the first 20 minutes but as the half wore on the Vikes took control of the game. Continuous attack efforts were thwarted but the Vikes back line who kept the Timberwolves to only 13 shots compared to the Vikes 27. As the clock ticked down, the experience on the field for the Vikes was evident through their quick decisive actions enabling them to keep possession of the ball.

Quick transition from defence to offence left the Timberwolves out of position on more than one occasion forcing the Timberwolves to foul and putting keeper Ty Venhola (Abbotsford, BC) under pressure. Down to the last 15 minutes Stokes made a break for the Vikes but was denied by Venhola, Stokes tried to put back the rebound but was shut down a second time. Venhola stepped up to the plate for the Timberwolves making a total of 13 saves during the match and kept the Vikes scoreless in the second half. At the final whistle the Vikes notched three more points with a 1-0 win over the Timberwolves

Both teams return to the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League fields Sunday, September 28. The match is set for 2:25 p.m. and will be streamed live at canadawest.tv