The Union Pines Lady Viking soccer team started the biggest week of its season so far by playing Cape Fear Valley Conference foe Gray’s Creek to a 0-0 draw Monday in Hope Mills.

With the tie, the Vikes (9-5-1) saw their five-game winning streak snapped, as they fell to 5-1-1 in league play. However, Union Pines is still alone in first place atop the current conference standings, which feature a tight bunching of several squads right on the Vikes’ heels.

Second-place Western Harnett (10-2, 5-2) lost 2-1 versus Southern Lee (4-6-2, 4-3) on Monday. Gray’s Creek (7-6-1, 5-2-1), which fell to Western 3-0 last Friday, is now alone in third place, while Overhills (6-5-1, 5-3) occupies the fourth spot.

With only one loss in league play and five games remaining on their conference schedule, the Lady Vikings remain in the driver’s seat as the race for the league title hits the home stretch.

Union Pines hosts Western Harnett tonight at 7 p.m. in a first-place clash on the pitch at Woodrow Wilhoit Stadium.

It was Western Harnett that handed Union Pines its sole league loss with a 3-0 result. A Viking win would go a long way in shoring up their prospects for repeating as conference champions.

Union Pines then finishes the week by taking on intra-county rival Pinecrest. The Lady Vikes will host the Patriots Friday at 7 p.m.