Charlottetown, P.E.I. - The eighth seeded University of Victoria women's rugby team will return to the U SPORTS national championship final for the second-straight season, taking down fifth-seeded Queen's University, 17-14, in the semifinal Nov. 1 at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Vikes and Gaels trade lead over first half

• Maddy Grant put the Vikes on the board in the 12th minute. Catching a kick from Queen's, Grant sprinted from Vikes defensive territory down the left sideline all the way to the in-goal for the 5-0 Vikes lead.
• Queen's scored in the 24th minute to take a 7-5 lead on a try and convert.
• The Vikes regained the lead in the 30th minute. On a lineout, a low throw-in from Chloe Hill-Huse to Justine Blatt-Janmaat was given right back to Hill-Huse, who ran tight to the sideline and over the line to touch it down. A convert from Vanessa Chiappetta gave the Vikes a 12-7 lead that would stay in place until halftime.

Each side scores once in second; Vikes defence holds on for win

• Chiappetta extended Victoria's lead in the 43rd minute, faking out the Gaels defenders with a hesitation step and swerve to break away and get the ball down, bringing the Vikes' lead to 17-7.
• Queen's scored in the 61st minute to pull within three, 17-14, but strong defence by the Vikes including another forced turnover by Justine Blatt-Janmaat helped the Vikes run out the clock and seal the 17-14 win.

WORTH NOTING

• The Vikes will advance to the U SPORTS championship final for the second-straight year. The championship final appearance is the second in program history for UVic. Victoria was also seeded eighth in 2023.
• Vanessa Chiappetta led the Vikes with seven points from one try and one convert. Chloe Hill-Huse scored her first try of the national tournament, while Maddy Grant registered her third of the tournament in the win.
• Justine Blatt-Janmaat was named the Player of the Game for the Vikes.
• The Vikes move to 7-2 on the year with the win.

UP NEXT
The Vikes take on #2 and conference foe UBC for the U SPORTS title Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. AT. Catch the game on CBCSports.ca.