Vancouver, BC – The University of Victoria faced the University of Ottawa in the first round of the U SPORTS National Championship. The Vikes defeated the Gee-Gees 41-8 on Oct. 29, hosted by the University of British Columbia.
 
Back-and-forth scoring in the first half

• In the 4^th minute, the Vikes struck first. Larah Wright intercepted a pass off a lineout and danced through the Gee-Gee defenders all the way to the try zone for her first score of the game. Newsome finished off the play with the conversion for a 7-0 Vikes' lead.
•  The Gee-Gees turned up their offensive intensity, but the Vikes' defence was up to the challenge. With the Gee-Gees on the verge of breaking through to the Vikes' try zone, the Vikes' wall of defenders pushed them back. The Gee-Gees on the scoring pursuit were awarded a penalty goal opportunity and converted. This kick cut the Vikes' lead to 7-3.
• The Gee-Gees added on to their penalty goal by going back on the attack and scoring their first try of the game in the 20^th minute. The Gee-Gees took their first lead of the game, 8-7, as the game hit the halfway point of the first half.
• The Vikes pushed back on the Gee-Gees. In the 26^th minute, Soleil Brooks finished off a Vikes' offensive drive by powering her way through the Gee-Gee defenders. Olivia Newsome added on the conversion for the Vikes to retake the lead 14-8.

 
The Vikes took control in the second half

• The game returned for the second half, and the Vikes jumped on the Gee-Gees early. The Vikes pushed the ball just outside the Gee-Gee's try zone, and Justine Blatt-Janmaat kicked the ball out to Larah Wright, who used her momentum to move the defenders back as she touched the ball down for her second try of the game.
• Larah Wright wasted no time adding another try, her second in the span of three minutes. This time, Larah caught the ball with a burst of speed and weaved through defenders untouched all the way to the try zone. Wright's third try and Newsome's third conversion extended the Vikes' lead to 26-8 early in the second half.
• The Vikes were awarded a penalty goal in the 50^th minute, and Olvia Newsome sent it through the uprights to push the Vikes' lead out further to 29-8.
• The pace of the Vikes was too much for the Gee-Gees as Piper Walsh finished off a dominant drive with her first try of the game. Olivia Newsome added the conversion to extend the Vikes' lead to 36-8.
• In the last minute of the game, Elle Douglas kicked the ball in the try zone for ShonDreya Smardon to chase and touch down for the Vikes' last score of the game.

 
From the Field:
"Very happy, obviously, with the finish. We had a bit of a slow start and didn't quite stick to our game plan, and our process, and Ottawa is a quality team. And if we don't get those things right, it's going to be a tight game.

At halftime, we talked about to sticking to what we know and do the little things go well. And then from there we started to be able to express sort of who we are in the second half.

We can defend anywhere and everywhere. I'm never worried about that, but it's much nicer you to defend when it's not on your own goal line. So that's on us to get the ball out of our zone and we didn't quite get that right in the first half, but got it right in the second half. But defence is a big part of who we are and a big part of the heart of this team. And we show it time and time again. I'm always so proud of the team for stepping up.", said Vikes' Head Coach Brittany Waters when asked about today's game and the Vikes' second-half dominance.
 
The Nike Player of the Game honours were given to Larah Wright for her exceptional three-try performance. With the win, the Vikes will move on to the U SPORTS semi-finals, which will take place Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.