Louwes saves day for Vikes
UVic goalkeeper denies Thunderbirds in surprise victory
Her first name rhymes with luck, but Puck Louwes required none of that at Centennial Stadium on Saturday.
The third-year University of Victoria Vikes goalkeeper was a standout, posting 11 saves with two-thirds of those of the tougher variety, as the hosts surprised the No. 3-ranked UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 in Canada West women’s soccer action.
Louwes thwarted all the TBirds’ attempts, most off the foot of star striker Jasmin Dhanda.
UVic’s Kiara Kilbey finished off a great through ball from Emily Lieuwen in the 34th minute for the lone goal in the upset win.
“They had a lot of chances and I can’t believe none of them went in, to be honest,” said a relieved and fatigued Louwes, a Reynolds Secondary grad.
“It was crazy stressful, especially in the second half. We were under so much pressure. But we had parked the bus,” she said, referring to a defensive shell the Vikes were forced into because of UBC’s formation change to a more aggressive 3-4-3 system. “We got the goal we needed and we held it and defended.”
Louwes made a terrific stop off Dhanda seconds after Kilbey’s strike, then turned away Aman Shergill’s offering in the 40th minute and also halted Rachel Kordysz’s effort off the ensuing corner kick. Louwes started the second half with an easy save off Dhanda in the opening minute.
Dhanda also sent a curling strike just over the crossbar in the 48th minute and her re-direction of a short cross also just missed the mark in the 56th, 10 minutes before a key sprawling save by Louwes off the talented UBC striker. “It was a tough loss. We had a lot of chances and when you don’t finish them, that’s how it ends up sometimes,” Dhanda said. “It just wasn’t our day.”
It was Louwes’, however, easily the star of the opening Canada West game for both clubs.
“I would say that she had a tremendous game, certainly kept us in, no doubt about that,” Vikes head coach Tracy David said.
“She was facing a lot of shots. UBC was down a goal, looking to push and switched to the 3-4-3.
“They were trying to overload our fullbacks, so we had to drop players [back] at that point because we wanted to secure the three points.
“I know they had all the possession, especially in the second half, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.”
It could have been easier if a blatant penalty call would have been made against UBC keeper Marlee Maracle as she hauled down Victoria Wulff in the 77th minute. Maracle made just two saves on the day.
The Vikes men dropped to 0-2-1 with a 3-0 setback at Thompson Rivers.