VICTORIA, B.C. - Last year the University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team had a near-perfect record in regular season play, going 10-2-0 to finish on top of the Canada West regular season standings. The Vikes hosted the conference Final Four and were forced to meet CIS defending champions Trinity Western in the semifinals.  The Vikes lost 2-1 to the Spartans in a gold-medal worthy match-up, losing out on a spot at nationals, but found redemption defeating UBC for Canada West bronze. With four key players graduating, Vikes women's soccer head coach Tracy David will have to turn to her returning to core to guide her young squad in their 2014 campaign.

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Entering the pre-season, the Vikes are ranked No. 7 in the CIS, while the Thunderbirds enter as No. 10 and the two-time defending national champions, the Spartans, enter ranked No. 2 behind Montreal. 

"It's a tough weekend to open with and certainly after this weekend we will know where we fall in the pack," said David, a six-time Canada West Coach of the Year. "We will need all pistons firing for sure. We have Emma Greig up front as one of our scoring leaders but we will need to supply a strong supporting cast for her."

David, last year's Canada West Coach of the year, enters her 13^th season at the helm and will return the talents of three-time Canada West All-Star Jaclyn Sawicki, as well as fourth-year Carly Branion-Calles, striker Greig and defenders Mallory Hackett and Elise Butler. In addition, first year Meaghan Storie will be one of three keepers expected to fill the shoes of graduating goalkeeper Tanya Jones.
 
In pre-season the Vikes had a scoreless draw with the Alberta Pandas, last year's CIS bronze medalists, a 2-2 draw with Langara College and a 2-1 loss to Seattle Pacific University. Fourth year Greig is the lone Vike to get on the board, tallying twice against Langara and once against Seattle Pacific.
 
David will use all the time available to her to fine tune her squad who will no doubt have a pair of tough match-ups hosting UBC and the two time defending champions, Trinity Western. The Vikes will host on Sept. 5-6 at Centennial Stadium. Both games kick off at 5 p.m. and will have live video and stats at uvic.canadawest.tv.

The Sept. 5 match up will also be an extension of the Vikes' 5th Annual ThunderFest activities known as Days of Thunder. Prizes will be available at half time and more information can be found at govikesgo.com/ThunderFest
 
SCOUTING THE UVIC VIKES
2013 conference record: 10-2-0
2013 playoffs: 2-1 (3^rd)
Last CW title:  2009
Last CIS title: 2005
CIS pre-season ranking: #7
 
Key returnees: M Jaclyn Sawicki, M Carly Branion-Calles, F Emma Greig, D Mallory Hackett, D Cassie Dennis, D Elise Butler
Key additions: M Miranda Sakich, D Emily Stenerson, D Olivia Swinton, D Katie Carrothers
Key departures: GK Tanya Jones, M Lindsay Hoetzel, M Jackie Harrison, D Brigitte Greig,
 
SCOUTING THE UBC THUNDERBIRDS
2013 conference record: 8-1-3 (3rd)
Last CIS title:  2006
Last CW title: 2007
CIS Pre-season Ranking: #10
 
Key returnees: Jasmin Dhanda, Aman Shergill, Emily Wilson, Tamara Roughead, Taylor Shannik and Nicole Sydor
Key additions: Reetu Johal, Nadia Langenberg, Elizabeth Swoboda, Amrit Berar
Key departures: Janine Frazao, Rachael Sawer, Taryn Lim, Christina Donnelly, Jordan Kitagawa and Alyssa Williamson
 
SCOUTING THE TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS
2013 Regular Season Record: 8-1-3
2013 Playoff Record: 5-1
2013 Playoff Result: CIS gold, CW silver
Last CW Championship: 2012
Last CIS Championship: 2013
CIS Pre-season ranking: #2
 
Key Returnees: Jennifer Castillo (D), Jenna Di Nunzio (M), Krista Gommeringer (F), Vanessa Kovacs (M)
Key Additions: Seina Kashima (F), Amy Gartke (D), Kathleen Chin (D/M), Ally Williamson (GK-RS)
Key Departures: Natalie Boyd (M), Alicia Tesan (M), Colleen Webber (D), Rachel Bedek (G), Nikki Wright (F)