VICTORIA – The UVIC Vikes women's soccer team will face their toughest test of the pre-season when they take to the field at Centennial Stadium on Friday, August 26 at 4 p.m.
 
The match, against the Western Washington University Vikings, will be the fourth and final tune-up game for the Vikes as they prepare for the 2016 CIS soccer season.
 
Western Washington is a familiar opponent for the Vikes, they lost 3–2 to the Vikings in Bellingham last year and Vikes head coach Tracy David is looking forward to the challenge that the American team presents.
 
 "They took the game to us, they're very athletic, they were tough on the day and I think we just weren't ready to play them when we did," said David talking about that game last year.  "I'm expecting them to be as good if not better than they were, so we are going to have to be ready."
 
With the start of the regular season just over a week away, David is hoping her team will be able to match the intensity that she knows the Vikings will bring to the field.
 
"For sure it's a learning experience, but I want them to learn the competitiveness of the game because that is what Western Washington is going to bring. It doesn't matter who or at what level you play, the Americans are always going to compete," said David.
 
As with all pre-season games, the Vikes and their coach will be playing this one with an eye towards the regular season when points are up for grabs.
 
"We are going to have to get our game faces on because we are going to need that experience when we go to play UBC," said David.

Opening kickoff for the game will be 4 p.m. at Centennial Stadium, on Friday, August 26.