Aly Andersen - Vikings Athletics

CAMROSE, AB - In their first game in 699 days the Vikings Women's Soccer team welcomed the Medicine Hat College Rattlers to Augustana Field on Saturday afternoon to open their 2021-22 ACAC season campaign, but fell short of a home game win, losing 6-4 to the Rattlers.

In a high-scoring affair that saw a combined 10 goals from both sides, with second-year Rattler Maisa Rebello leading the charge with four goals and one assist on the day. Third-year Shelby Bach and rookie Emily Lafreniere rounded out the scoring, netting one goal each. 

Across the field, Vikings rookie Kristy Hernandez was equal to the task, finding the goal 3 times on the day, while Hanna Boyce, continued her scoring touch from last season adding a fourth goal for the Vikings. Save 10 of the 16 shots she faced, Sofia Ovcharenko stood tall during her Vikings debut.

It didn't take long for the floodgates to open, with Hernandez opening the scoring in just ten minutes, putting the Vikings up 1-0. However, Rebello hit her stride during the 19th minute to tie the score at one, before adding her second on the day 10 minutes later. Boyce rounded out the first half to tie the game a two-a-piece.

Hernandez wasted no time getting the Vikings back on top to the second half with a goal in the 46th minute before the Rattler took control of the game with four unanswered goals in nine minutes.  

Lafreniere started the goal fest in the 64th minute, trading off goals with Rabello in the 67th minute, Bach in the 71st minute, before Rabello capped off her game in the 73rd and brought the game well out of reach from the Vikings with a 6-3 lead. 

Hernandez added her third goal late in the 90th minute to close the gap 6-4, however it was too late, sending the Rattlers with their first win of the season (1-0-0), while the Vikings dropped their home opener (0-1-0).

Next weekend the Vikings will travel south to visit the Olds College Broncos on Saturday, before continuing on to Calgary to take on the SAIT Trojans in a Sunday afternoon match-up. The Rattlers on the other hand will visit their neighbors in the south, taking on the Lethbridge College Kodiaks Friday afternoon, and host the Ambrose Lions on Sunday for their season home opener.