As the 2009 fall semester draws to a close at the University of Victoria, there are plenty of achievements within the Vikes' athletics programs to celebrate. Over the course of the fall term the Vikes won a Canadian University Championship, two Western Canada titles, two Canada West banners and a CIS bronze medal.

Men's Rowing
For the first time since 2001 and the fifth time in school history, the Vikes captured the Canadian University Rowing Association Championship after a successful performance at Montreal's Olympic Basin. Led by coach of the year #Howie Campbell#, the Vikes also captured their second consecutive Western Canadian Rowing Championship edging the UBC Thunderbirds 18-15 in scoring totals.

Women's Rowing
The Vikes avenged a narrow 2008 loss to the UBC Thunderbirds with a comfortable 20-14 point total to capture the '09 Western Canadian Rowing Championship. The Vikes carried their form into the Canadian University Championship producing a fourth place finish. The squad won silver in the eights, lightweight double, placed fourth in the pair and fifth in the lightweight four to finish with a total of 71 points.

Women's Field Hockey
In her 26th year of coaching the Vikes women's field hockey squad, head coach #Lynne Beecroft# led the defending national champs to the program's sixth CIS Championship bronze and 25th medal in school history. After going 1-2-1 in round robin play, the Vikes took a 2-1 decision over top seed Guelph Gryphons to capture CIS bronze on their home turf.

Men's Soccer
Led by a roster of All-Star veterans, the UVic Vikes men's soccer team peaked in the Canada West's final stretch, successfully defending their conference crown to qualify for their 11th nationals appearance. The Canada West championship was the Vikes' 13th in school history and their first successful back-to-back title defence since 1984.

Women's Soccer
Boasting the Canada West's toughest goal keeper, stingiest defence and top goal scorer, even the national team wanted a piece of the Vikes' winning combination as the squad geared up for the postseason. #Kendra Flock# earned a trial with Canada's senior women's squad after netting 14 goals to break a UVic single scoring record and became the third women's soccer player to earn a conference MVP nod.

Women's XC
Led by a third place finish from #Deidre Moran# (16th CIS), the Vikes won their 18th Canada West conference banner and first since 2005. The squad finished fourth overall at the CIS Championship in Kingston with strong performances by Canada West First Team All-Stars #Claire Jean# and #Julia Tschanz#. The Vikes also had two Canada West award winners as #Brent Fougner# was named coach of the year for the fifth time and #Lauren Beaulieu# received the conference's student-athlete award.

Men's XC
A month after individually winning the Concordia Puma Classic and leading the Vikes to a second place finish, #Matt Pieterson# led the Vikes to a fourth place Canada West finish. Pieterson and #Daniel Mallie# each clocked in amongst the top ten at the CIS Championship earning CIS First Team All-Canadian status and led their squad to an 11th place finish overall.

Men's Rugby
A star-studded Vikes' lineup qualified for their third consecutive VIRU Elite Division final on Dec. 5th but fell 27-23 to James Bay in pursuit of their Barnard Cup title defence. Over the course of the season, eight Vikes competed in the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship and four were selected for a three-week national tour against Japan and Russia. Despite missing key starters the Vikes posted a 4-3-2 record and boasted the league's top scorer in Thomas Brody.

Women's Rugby
A 5-0 defeat over the Calgary Dinos saw the Vikes capture their first regular season Canada West victory since 2001. Back row player Sarah Logan was named to the Canada West All-Star lineup with the Vikes taking fourth place in the conference championship. In VIRU play, the squad has posted a 2-2 record with victories over Comox and Nanaimo.

Men's Golf
Benefiting from some key off-season recruiting, the Vikes were led by freshman #Sam Holland# in their three opening tournaments. The New Minas, Nova Scotia native placed 15th at the Peaks Classic in LaVeta Colo., second at the Saint Martin's Invitational and seventh at the Cavaliers Classic at Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland, Oregon. In their final tournament of 2009, the Vikes Shootout, the squad finished in a close second to UBC. #Erik Swinburnson# shot a 4-under 68 on the final round and captured the individual title.

Women's Golf
Led by #Anne Balser#, the squad wrapped up their fall '09 campaign by capturing the Vikes Shootout at Cordova Bay Golf Course with the Digby, Nova Scotia native capturing the individual trophy. The two-time Canadian FISU Golf Team representative also won the Wayland Baptist Peaks Classic in mid-September. In October, Balser placed fourth overall at the Cavaliers Classic and led the squad to a third place team finish.

Men's Basketball
Defence has been key to the Vikes' early success as they wrap up the first half of their season with a 4-3 record. Allowing a league-best 67.3 points per game, the Vikes knocked off two of the country's top ranked teams toppling the no. 7 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies and split an away series against the no. 10 Trinity Western Spartans.

Women's Basketball
After wrapping up the season with two convincing road wins in Winnipeg, the Vikes enter the break ranked seventh in the country. Back in week two, the squad rebounded from two tough opening losses to edge out the no. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies 58-52. 2008 CIS MVP #Kayla Dykstra# leads the squad in scoring and ranks second in the Pacific Division in field goal percentage.

Men's Field Hockey
After being held winless in their opening seven games, the Vikes finished the semester strong winning two of their final three games including a 5-4 win over the defending league champion VRC Jokers. The squad enters the holiday break winners of a 4-1 decision over Surrey based India Club.

Men's and Women's Swimming
Led by strong individual performances by their rookies, the Vikes swimming team finished second at the Clan Cup International hosted in Burnaby. #Nicholas Sinclair#, a first year swimmer with the Vikes, led the medal haul with five first-place finishes and four bronze medals. Other top performers by the Vikes men included #Jeff Saganski# winning gold in the 50 and 100 fly. #Eric Stein# won silver in the 1500m and third in the 400 IM.

#Siobhan Newell#, a first year swimmer from Kingston, Ont. captured four medals in total at the Clan Cup International. Women's medalists also included #Eleanora Dalling# taking silver in the 200 back, and also winning bronze in the 50 and 100 back. The Vikes finished second overall in the team standings with 329 points, behind host and champion SFU.