Two goals from Vadym Kirshe and a solid performance in goal by Tom Pennels and the rest of the Tigers defence carried the Vancouver Island Field Hockey Association competitive division leaders to a 3-1 win over Rebels on Sunday at Uvic’s Lynne “Buzz” Beecroft Field.
The victory left Tigers (10-5-0) six points clear of Rebels (7-5-3) in the race for the top of the standings. With just two regular season games left and Tigers owning a better head-to-head record against Rebels, four games to two, the win officially clinched the division title for the defending league champions.
The teams play one more game against each other, but even if Rebels win their last two outings and Tigers lose both, Tigers would win the tiebreaker.
Connor Brown tallied the other Tigers goal on Sunday, while Johnny Jacoby scored for Rebels, whose keeper Felix Randall helped keep the score close with a standout effort.
The only other game on the soggy day saw Rebels 2 hand Hawks their first defeat of the season with a 5-1 win in recreational division play.
The Rebels built a 3-0 lead by the end of two quarters, and held off a number of Hawks forays into the attacking zone in the second half with stifling defence and a brilliant performance from goalkeeper* Owen Dahl*.
Ray Bailey and pickup Tom Vincent each scored twice from the forward line to pace the attack, while Kevin Dahl added a single. Jesse Bains, ever present up front for Hawks, showed good second effort to beat a last defender in a goalmouth scramble and watched his shot trickle across the line for his team’s lone goal on the day.
Next weekend sees Hawks take on Marauders in the 10:30 a.m. rec game, followed by Rebels 1 vs. Victoria League Selects at noon and Tigers vs. UVic Vikes at 1:30 p.m.