VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes women's rugby team had a challenging matchup against defending Canada West champions the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. Lethbridge proved their worth with a 49-5 victory at Victoria's Wallace Field on Friday night. With the win, Lethbridge start their season 1-0-0 while the Vikes drop 0-1-0. 

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Nine different players from the Lethbridge side scored tries, indicating the strength of their 22 returning players. Tallies by captain Kendra Reeves, last year's leading scorer Cassandra Orr, key returnees Alex Hendricks and Laura Murphy-Burke, as well as fourth-year Kim Leavitt, third-year Paula Woynarowsky, and rookies Julia Seymour and Katherine Karthaus proved the depth of the Pronghorns line-up. In addition to a try, flyhalf Laura Murphy-Burke also made good on two conversions for an individual total of nine points.
 
The lone try for the Vikes came late in the second half from first-year Dacey Livingstone (Red Deer, A.B.) while hard work from Alanna Cryer (Calgary, Alta.), captain Melissa Robinson (North Vancouver, B.C.), and veteran Courtney Goulet (White Rock, B.C.) resulted in several key turnovers. 
 
The young Vikes were in for a difficult day at the pitch against the more experienced Pronghorns. Capitalizing on nearly every Vikes turnover, the Pronghorns proved to their UVic hosts why they are the reigning Canada West champions.
 
Right off the whistle the Pronghorns scored two quick tries, effectively asserting their dominance for the duration of the game. The Vikes women had their first big opportunity when soon after they earned a scrum in the offensive zone but were unable to capitalize after efforts from number two Robinson were halted by a penalty just before the touchline.
 
The Vikes tallied late in the second half after another solid go by Robinson deep in the left corner. The Pronghorns forced theturnover but were unable to complete the outlet as they lost possession in the middle of their defensive zone. Receiving the ball out on the wing, Livingstone carried it forward for the five points.
 
“The girls worked hard and it was definitely a learning experience for us,” said head coach Mark Hall. “We can only go forward from here.”
 
The Pronghorns are now 1-0-0 in the Canada West conference while the Vikes are at 0-1-0.  Next up for the Pronghorns is a trip to Vancouver where they will take on the number five-ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. The Vikes will continue their quest for a home turf win when they play the University of Calgary Dinos on Wallace Field, Sept. 23, at 11:30 a.m.

Victoria:  D. Livingstone (5)