Scoring
BAYS        1    0    -    1
UVIC        2    4    -     6
UVIC: Spencer MacKinnon (2), Andrew Ravenhill, Thomas Mallette, Gavin Barrett (1) / Dan Kilpatrick (W, 45 min) / Elliot Mitrou (45 min)
BAYS: Scoring information unavailable
Vikes improve to 5-0-1 on pre-season (W-L-T).

VICTORIA - Words of encouragement. Empowering intensity. Leading from the sidelines.

Entering his 25th season at the helm of the University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer team, Bruce Wilson commands respect. Effortlessly, he conveys that he's a man who knows how to get a positive response from his players. Intense, but with a sense of humour and empathy.

On Sunday Sept. 4, the Vikes showed their offensive flair and ability to score quickly off counter-attacks, pummelling Bays United (Oak Bay) 6-1 at Centennial Stadium. UVic goals came from Andrew Ravenhill, Thomas Mallette, Gavin Barrett, and two from Spencer MacKinnon. The Vikes also benefitted from an own-goal by Bays.

Dan Kilpatrick, who earned the win and made a save on a kick from the penalty spot in the opening half, and Elliot Mitrou split duties in net.

Right from the opening warmup – crisp, clean and with a purpose - Wilson's warriors looked focussed and determined.

Back as the bench-boss with the Vikes men in 2011, this is a special year for a coach reaching the quarter-century mark. UVic plays host to the 2011 CIS national men's soccer championship and with it earns an automatic berth to the tournament. It will likely be the last tournament Wilson coaches in on home soil - it carries some extra meaning.

And, great coaching could be the difference down the stretch - it's what might give this year's Vikes a slight edge over a very deep CIS pool of talent.

It's going to be a theme throughout the year. His players believe in him and already look like a cohesive unit a week before the regular season starts.

With a preseason record of 5-0-1 (W-L-T), the Vikes are as prepared as they can be when they face the UBC Thunderbirds (Sept. 9) and Trinity Western Spartans (Sept. 10) on the road in the first weekend of Canada West regular season play.

Despite making a few errors in their own defensive third, the back-four regrouped and provide a stronger end to the opening half.

The Vikes were the stronger team throughout the math. Ravenhill opened the scoring on a controversial play that looked to be thee feet offside. After winning the ball in the air, the Vikes orchestrated an entertaining tic-tac-toe scoring play, with Peter Richmond, sending a ball to Mallette who slid the ball across to Ravenhill who simple had to tap the ball in after a great run.

The Vikes nearly paid for disorganization in their back end when Joel Gomez took down a Bays player on the edge of the 18-yard-box. Oak Bay was awarded a penalty but UVic's Kilpatrick made a great low save just 22 minutes in to keep the Vikes up one goal.

But another defensive miscue allowed the Bays player Adam Ravenhill. brother to Vikes midfielder Andrew and son of former Vike Dave, to slide in behind the Vikes defenders and tie the game at 1-1, sliding the ball along the grass in to beat a helpless Kilpatrick.

Mallette took a nice feed from Wes Barrett but Bays keeper Steve Welle made a beautiful reaction save to keep the game tied.

UVic's pressure resulted in a 2-1 goal. Shifty midfielder Miguel Romeo delivered a perfect through-ball to Mallette who outwitted the Bays keeper scoring low with about 10 minutes left in the half.

Both teams kept the pressure on, but no more goals were scored in the first frame and the Vikes led 2-1 at the half.

Wilson, a former World Cup captain with Canada in 1986, made a complete change of his team at the half. Great coaches can recruit. He has a roster of 28 players, all talented and hungry.

The adjustments and fresh legs in the second-half paid immediate dividends. Depth could be a key advantage for the Vikes this season.

They added to their lead early in the second, connecting on a scramble in Oak Bay's six-yard-box which put UVic up 3-1.

Off an overhit corner, David Adams took the rebound off the post and headed it to Gavin Barrett  who tapped the rebound in.

MacKinnon scored on a penalty 15 minutes later to extend the lead to 4-1, and then netted his second of the day, threading a curling shot into the top right corner on a well-developed play to make it 5-1 Vikes with about 15 minutes remaining.

An own goal off a corner kick by Bays in the late stages made it 6-1 for UVic.

The Vikes never gave up, putting together a nice series of passes in the final few minutes, keeping cool in the late-stages as the match, with the score out of hand, looked to get rough.

Good coaching, perhaps, prevailed in allowing calmer heads to emerge.

And good coaching is what the Vikes will need when Canada's best arrive in Victoria Nov. 10-13 for the 2011 CIS men's soccer nationals.
At the final whistle, the perfect pre-season record remained in tact.

You could even see Bruce Wilson crack a smile at the end of the match. Perhaps he senses this could be a very good year for the Vikes.

Next up, start of Canada West regular season: Sept. 9 at UBC (7:15 p.m.) and Sept. 10 at Trinity Western (7 p.m.). Vikes home opener is on Saturday Sept. 17 at 2:15 p.m. at Centennial Stadium against Alberta.