Edmonton, Alta. – The University of Victoria women's rugby team opened the 2025 Canada West 7s season with a 3-2 showing at the University of Alberta's tournament, Jan. 25-26 inside The Dome at Foote Field.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Spartans best Vikes in opening match

• Trinity Western captured the 12-5 win over the Victoria in the Vikes' first match of the day.
• Shaye Ogurek was lone scorer for the Vikes, recording a try in the first half to tie the game, 5-5. TWU scored in the second half to take the 12-5 win.

Vikes bounce back in win over Alberta

• Tries from Vanessa Chiappetta and Kira Peary, along with two Chiappetta converts, gave the Vikes a 14-0 lead in the first half. Alberta registered a try before the end of the first half to bring the score to 14-5 in favour of UVic at halftime.
• Second-half tries from Shaye Ogurek, Peary, and Macy Wiebe, along with Chiappetta's third convert of the match, sealed the 31-5 win for the Vikes.

Comeback effort pushes Vikes past Dinos

• Both the Vikes and Dinos each recorded a try in the first half. Gwynnie Fry's try and Elle Douglas' convert gave the Vikes a narrow 7-5 lead at halftime.
• Calgary scored the first two tries of the second half, taking a 15-7 lead.
• Kira Peary's try and Vanessa Chiappetta's convert pulled the Vikes back within one, 15-14.
• Remee Brown completed the Vikes' comeback, touching the ball down with just 39 seconds left on the clock to give Victoria the 19-15 win.

Vikes down Pronghorns to open day two

• After taking a 12-0 lead on tries from Shaye Ogurek and Emily Findlay and a convert by Vanessa Chiappetta, Lethbridge got on the board before the end of the first half to bring the Vikes' lead to 12-5.
• Keeping the Pronghorns scoreless in the second half, the Vikes saw tries from Chiappetta, Elle Douglas, and Kaitlyn Brescia, along with two Chiappetta converts to claim the 31-5 victory.

Thunderbirds edge Vikes in final match

• In the Vikes' final match of the tournament, the Thunderbirds took a 12-0 lead after the first half of play. Emily Findlay put the Vikes on the board in the second half, but the Vikes were unable to get any closer and ultimately fell to UBC, 12-5. 

WORTH NOTING

• Kira Peary and Shaye Ogurek led the Vikes' try-scoring over the tournament, scoring three each over the five matches.
• Vanessa Chiappetta was the top point-scorer for the Vikes, registering two tries and a team-high seven converts for 24 points.
• In all, the Vikes saw nine point-scorers in the first weekend of action.
• The Vikes open the 7s season with a 3-2 record, and sit in third place in the Canada West standings. 

UP NEXT
The Vikes head to Trinity Western University for the Langley 7s stop, Feb. 7-8. Catch the action on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.