680NEWS

VICTORIA, B.C. - The defending champion Victoria Vikes moved one step closer to a repeat appearance in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's field hockey final after tying the top-seeded Guelph Gryphons 1-1 Friday.

The No. 3-ranked Vikes (1-0-2) could clinch their 21st appearance in the title game since the tournament started in 1975 with a win versus the No. 5 Alberta Pandas (0-2-0) on Saturday.

Earlier Friday, the Vikes tied the No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds 0-0. The Canada West champion Thunderbirds (2-0-1) have already clinched a spot in Sunday's gold-medal final.

It will mark a 17th trip to the final for UBC, which shares the all-time record of 11 McCrae Cup championships with Victoria.

Also Friday, the 10-time McCrae Cup champion Toronto Varsity Blues (1-2-0) kept their medal hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Alberta.

In Friday's late match, Natalie Wise of Surrey, B.C., gave the Vikes the lead with a goal in the 56th minute.

The lead was short-lived as freshman Katelin Dellandrea of Guelph, Ont., scored her tournament-leading fourth goal for the Gryphons (1-1-1).

"I think we have to come out strong against Alberta and I think we're ready to do it," said Wise. "I don't think there's anything we can't accomplish because we work as a team."

By forcing the tie, the OUA champion Gryphons kept their playoff hopes intact. Guelph ends round-robin play against Alberta on Saturday.

Toronto 2 Alberta 1

Kristen Shier scored the winning goal to lead the Varsity Blues to a crucial win over Alberta.

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Victoria 0 UBC 0

Vikes goaltender Kaitlyn Williams earned her second shutout of the tournament, while Dina Bulfone earned a clean sheet for UBC.