VICTORIA - The University of Victoria women's rugby team defeated the University of Lethbridge, 64-7, in its final home game of the 2023 season, Oct. 1 at Wallace Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a scrum, the Vikes swung the ball out to Ella O'Regan, who found a gap and made it into the end zone for the first try of the day in the 14th minute. A successful convert from Maggie MacKinnon made the score 7-0 for the Vikes.
• A chip kick from Maelle Reed landed perfectly in Olivia Newsome's hands, allowing Newsome to breakaway for the try. Another MacKinnon convert brought the score to 14-0 in the 17th minute.
• Playing in her first game since the 2021 season after coming back from injury, 2021 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Larah Wright got the ball over the line for a try in the 20th minute. MacKinnon made the score 21-0 for the Vikes with a successful conversion.
• MacKinnon recorded nine of the next 14 points for the Vikes, scoring the convert on Zoe Williams' 29th minute try and registering the full seven points on a try and convert in the 32nd minute, bringing the score to 35-0 for UVic.
• Closing the first-half scoring in the final minute, Maelle Reed ran half the field and stepped two oncoming Pronghorn defenders to get the ball over the line. After MacKinnon's sixth-straight conversion, the Vikes took a 42-0 lead into halftime.
• Scoring her first-of-two on the day, Justine Blatt-Janmaat scored the try in the 46th minute, adding a convert from MacKinnon for the 49-0 Vikes lead.
• Emmie Pierce scored her first 15s try for the Vikes in the 49th minute to bring the score to 54-0 before the Pronghorns made it on to the scoreboard with a try and conversion to make the score 54-7 in favour of the Vikes in the 52nd minute.
• Newsome and Blatt-Janmaat scored their second tries of the day in the 58th and 78th minutes, respectively, to seal the Vikes' win at 64-7.

WORTH NOTING

• The nine Vikes tries match their most in a single game this season, also done against Alberta, Sept. 17.
• MacKinnon's seven made converts tie for most made in a single Canada West game this season.
• Victoria's 64 points are the most scored against Lethbridge in the Brittany Waters era.
• The Vikes improve to 3-1 with the win, while the Pronghorns fall to 2-3 with the loss.

UP NEXT
The Vikes close the 2023 Canada West regular season at the University of British Columbia, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.