VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes women's field hockey team is half way through their 2014 Canada West season and with four games under their belt the undefeated Vikes are in a comfortable position. This weekend, Oct. 4-5, the Vikes, currently 2-0-2, will host the Calgary Dinos (0-4) for a double-header.
 
With only three teams in the conference, the race for the two Canada West qualifying spots at the 2014 CIS National Championship, hosted Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Toronto, has already become a bit clearer. Three-time defending CIS national champions, the UBC Thunderbirds, are also 2-0-2 through regular-season play, and will be the likely challengers to the Vikes for the conference banner.
 
Last season the Vikes ousted UBC in their final regular season game to win their 16^th Canada West banner, their first conference title since 2002. Victoria will be looking to defend that title, with four home games left in their season.
 
The visiting Calgary Dinos will be coming off a two-game series against the T-Birds. The Dinos failed to convert Sept. 28-29, losing 4-0 and 2-0 to the powerhouse UBC squad, despite two strong performances from fourth-year transfer and goalkeeper Alicia Frisch. Second-year Dinos head coach Henre Meyer has a young squad of 11 rookies, and must rely on the experience of third years Janelle Rice, Kimiko Durrer, Jessica Britton and Nadia Izzo.
 
In their opening weekend the Vikes beat the Dinos twice in Calgary, 6-0 and 1-0, and second-year Victoria keeper Larissa Piva earned her first two career shut outs. The Vikes had two 1-1 ties against the UBC Thunderbirds in their second weekend. With nine goals from seven different scorers, the Vikes have shown consistency in their ability to rely on their entire bench.
 
The Vikes and Dinos will clash on Oct. 4-5, both games at 11:00 a.m. at UVic's field hockey turf. Ticket information is available at govikesgo.com/tickets