VICTORIA, B.C. - After day one of the third annual National University Sevens Rugby Championship the University of Victoria Vikes women's rugby team post a record of 1-3 against some of the top teams in varsity women's rugby.
 
POOL STANDINGS / RESULTS
 
In a pool that included 2012 CIS women's rugby champions and tournament defending champions the University of Guelph Gryphons as well as 2012 Canada West champions the University of Alberta Pandas, the UVic women were up against stiff competition. Rookies Kara Galbraith (Ladysmith, BC) and Laura Crowe-Hutchon (West Vancouver, BC) were standouts alongside fourth-year Kehla Guimond (Sidney, BC) as they helped carry the young Vikes squad.
 
In their first match of the day against the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat, the Vikes ran their B.C. competition to a score of 27-12, giving them the momentum going into game two against Alberta.
 
Proving that they are a team to contend with, the Vikes put up a fight against the Alberta Pandas, a side led by Canada West Player of the Year, Chelsea Guthrie. Victoria forced the powerhouse Pandas down to the very last play of the game. After staying even with Alberta for the entirety of the match the Vikes gave up possession in the dying minutes and the Pandas crossed the line twice for a final score of 24-15.
 
In their final two matches of the day against eastern competition the McMaster University Marauders and the defending champions the Guelph Gryphons, the Vikes struggled to find their footing. The UVic women posted an unconverted try against the Marauders but were unable to pull off the win and fell 22-5. Against the Gryphons, the Vikes were shutout 38-0 as the eastern side demonstrated why they deserved the number one seed going into the tournament.
 
The UVic Vikes kick off again tomorrow morning, at Westhills Stadium in Langford, B.C., when they play their first game of the shield round.