Charlottetown, P.E.I – In a rematch of the U SPORTS championship match from one season ago, the #8 University of Victoria women's rugby team came out on top, defeating #1 Université Laval, 28-14, on the UPEI Turf Field in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 U SPORTS women's rugby championship.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Grant strikes twice to put the Vikes in front 

• It took less than 10 minutes for the Vikes to get on the board, with an eighth-minute try from Maddy Grant giving Victoria its first points of the day. An offload from Summer Blackmore was secured by Grant, who ran it the rest of the way for the first try of the day. A successful convert by Vanessa Chiappetta brought the score to 7-0.
• A lineout for the Vikes in the 17th minute led the Vikes getting Grant the ball once again, who was able to run the ball in for her second try of the day. Along with a second Chiappetta convert, the Vikes went ahead, 14-0.

Vikes double lead 

• Ending the first half scoring in the 24th minute was Carissa Norsten. The Vikes swung the ball out to Norsten on the left side, who used the open lane to her advantage to get over the line and touch the ball down. Chiappetta was successful on the convert attempt for the third time to send the Vikes into halftime with a 21-0 lead.
• Chiappetta opened the second half with a try of her own. The Vikes stole the ball back on a Laval lineout and worked the ball to a waiting Chiappetta on the left side, who snuck through the Laval defenders for the score. Making her own convert, the Vikes lead extended to 28-0.

Rouge et Or put final points on the board

• Tries by Laval in the 54th and 70th minute put the top seed on the board, bringing the final score to 28-14 in favour of Victoria.

WORTH NOTING

• Vanessa Chiappetta led the Vikes with 13 points from one try and four converts.
• Maddy Grant was named the Player of the Game for her 10-point effort.
• The Vikes have defeated the tournament #1 seed in the quarterfinal for the second-straight season, having taken down #1 Ottawa at the 2023 championship.
• Victoria improves to 6-2 on the season with the win.

UP NEXT
The Vikes face the winner of #4 Acadia vs. #5 Queen's Friday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. AT at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place. Catch the game on CBC Sports.