The Victoria Stars lost for the first time this season to current league leaders Athletes in Action on Saturday giving up 2 late goals in a 3-1 battle. AIA came out strong from the opening whistle no doubt aware that the Stars had scored 12 goals in their first 2 games. And they opened the scoring in the 30th minute by beating the offside trap to send 2 players in on Stars goalie Allison Dube, leaving her no chance of a save.

But it was the Stars who had the best of the scoring chances early as top scorer Lisa Sharp was left unmarked at the top of the box with only the keeper to beat but her shot went over the bar. Then it was Stephanie Shaw who had the next great chance only to have the ball slip beneath her boots again with only the keeper to beat from the 6 yard box.

But for most of the game it was clear that AIA were not going to let this game slip out of their grasp as they fought tooth and nail for every 50/50 ball and got stuck in with their tackles as the Stars kept looking for the way through their back line to get the equalizer. But persistance finally paid off as Tera Kasabuchi capped off a brilliant solo effort by beating 2 defenders then sending her shot goalward only to have the keeper make the save, but the rebound came back to Kasabuchi for her to slot into the open goal. 1-1 and you would think that the momentum was in the Stars favour.

But AIA continued to attack as did the Stars with neither keepers forced into any serious saves until the 85th minute when a clearing header from Selina Good dropped at the feet of the AIA forward and from 25 yards out she unleashed a cracking shot that flew into the top corner of the net. 2-1 to AIA and the home team had no choice but to throw everything forward to try and restore the tie. But the visitors held firm and with seconds left put the game out of doubt when 2nd half keeper Meagan Stewart got beat to the ball at the edge of the box as the forward turned in her cross it was met again by Good who headed the ball off her own goalpost rebounding again off her and into the Stars goal.

" This was obviously not our best effort." stated Stars coach Lou Garraway. " AIA wanted it more than we did. I think that after posting 2 impressive wins here we thought that this game would be a walk as the Kelowna team we beat 4-1 had beaten this team 4-0."

" The girls are going to be disapointed by this loss, but hopefully we can all learn from this and rebound next week against Surrey United. I don't think that we can take anything for granted in this league, and we have to aproach every game with the same fighting spirit that we had for our first 2 games."

The Stars next game is Sunday June 17 in Surrey then they travel to Kelowna and Kamloops before returning home to face Team BC on July 7.