by Austin Cozicar

SFU returns home from Vancouver Island with mixed results, taking Friday’s contest 4-2 against the University of Victoria Vikes, but falling 5-2 the next night versus the Vancouver Island University Mariners.

Friday night saw UVic draw first blood with Keenan Eddy scoring the first period’s only goal on the power play.

Jake Keremidschieff tied up the game with the only goal of the second period, also on the power play, with assists from Ty Westgard and Eric Callegari.

Just 19 seconds into the third, Westgard potted his first BCIHL goal to give SFU a 2-1 lead.

UVic made things interesting late, tying up the game at two with 4:08 left. But Kyle Bergh’s fourth goal of the season with 1:50 restored the SFU lead, and Mac Colasimone’s empty netter prevented any further hope of a comeback.

Saturday against VIU saw SFU once again fall behind the eight ball, allowing the first period’s only goal.

Callegari answered back quickly for SFU in the second, with a power play goal just 36 seconds into the frame.

Garrett Murray put up his second of the night for VIU to restore their lead with 13:09 left in the second.

Colasimone tied it once again just under three minutes later for SFU, but three unanswered goals by VIU allowed them to cruise to a 5-2 victory.

On Friday, SFU had the shot advantage against UVic 43-39, but were outshot 45-28 Saturday by VIU. Freshman goaltender Andrew Henderson played both games for SFU, making 76 saves on 83 shots (.916 SV%) over the weekend.

“We got a win in a hard place to play at UVic. We battled hard, the guys really showed some good character and fought through some adversity, so it was a good moment,” said head coach Mark Coletta. “I thought we came out a little flat [Saturday]. We should have capitalized on a good effort from the night before.”

SFU will have a chance to get back in the win column this Saturday, as they host UVic at home.

“Making sure we’re prepared to jump out from the drop of the puck in the first period [will be our focus],” explained Coletta. “It’s pretty safe to say that in most of our games this year our first period’s been our worst, and we’ve struggled to get the lead and really impose our will.”

Puck drop this Saturday versus UVic at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre is at 7 pm.