VICTORIA, B.C. - The University of Victoria Vikes women's rugby team is set to host the defending Canada West champions, the Alberta Pandas, in their final regular season game at Wallace Field on Oct. 18. The Vikes hold a 2-1 record before gearing up for the Canada West playoffs, while the CIS No.10-ranked Pandas are 1-1.
The Vikes will be the Pandas' second opponent on a weekend road trip to the west coast, which includes a game agains the UBC Thunderbirds on Oct. 16.
The Pandas got back to winning ways this past weekend against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, winning 41-21 in their lone home game of the season. Fourth-year scrumhalf Amanda Smith and fifth-year number eight Elizabeth Steele each scored a pair of tries and are both sure to press the Vikes defence this weekend.
"We try not to focus on individual players," said Vikes women's rugby head coach
Brittany Waters. "Instead, we try to focus on working as a unit and getting them down through a team effort."
The Vikes and Pandas met in the pre-season on Sept. 3 with Alberta ultimately winning 43-22.
"it's tough for that result to be indicative of how are two teams play now," added Waters. "Different players played for both sides in pre-season and that was just exhibition. More players have come in since then and both teams have improved since the start of the season."
The Vikes defence came up big against the UBC Thunderbirds on Oct. 4, winning 28-10 win over their mainland rivals. The Vikes stopped multiple T-Birds' offensive efforts deep in Vikes territory and that is an aspect of the Vikes' game that will need to be on par again against Alberta.
"Defence will be a big focus again, especially against a big team like Alberta," said Waters. " It's always been one of the biggest aspects of our game that we work on in training. We're pretty confident in our attack, so it allows us to turn our attention and work on the defensive side of the game."
Kick-off on Oct. 18 at Wallace Field goes at 11:30 a.m. Don't miss the chance to see your Vikes women rugby team in action for the last regular season game of the season before Canada West playoffs begin Oct. 23.
