Vancouver, B.C. – In a rematch of the 2024 U SPORTS Championship title match, the University of Victoria women's rugby team defeated the University of British Columbia, 19-15, at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre, Aug. 30 to open the season.

Vikes keep 'Birds scoreless in first half

• The Vikes were the first to get points on the board, opening the scoring in the 31st minute. Near the goal line, the Vikes sent the ball left, ending with Carissa Norsten sending the ball to Ivy Poetker, who immediately caught the ball and touched it down for the 5-0 Vikes lead.
• Keeping UBC off the board in the first 40 minutes, the Vikes took their 5-0 lead into the halftime break.

UBC opens second-half scoring

• The Thunderbirds put the next 10 points of the game on the board, scoring a try and convert in the 51st minute and a penalty goal in the 55th minute to take a 10-5 lead over Victoria.

Ogurek, Sadden tries help Vikes hold off Thunderbird comeback attempt

• In the 57th minute, Sierra Gillis started the Vikes' scoring play by powering through Thunderbird defenders before handing the ball off to Shaye Ogurek who finished the run with a try. Ogurek's try, along with Maggie Mackinnon's first convert of the season, put the Vikes back in front, 12-10.
• Kicking the ball away in the 69th minute, Justine Blatt-Janmaat's kick bounced once before ShonDreya Smardon swooped in to the gathering of Thunderbirds to grab the ball and return it for the try. Along with a Mackinnon convert, the Vikes went ahead 19-10.
• UBC scored as the clock hit 80 minutes, pulling within four, 19-15. However, the Vikes held off the final push by the 'Birds to hold the score and open the season with a win.

Notables

• ShonDreya Smardon scored the first try of her Vikes career while making her Vikes debut against the Thunderbirds.
• Maggie Mackinnon posted four points in her first action for the Vikes since 2023 after missing the 2024 season recovering from injury.
• Ivy Poetker and Shaye Ogurek scored their first tries of the year in the win.
• The Vikes have now won the last two season-opening contests again UBC, claiming a 22-17 win at Wallace Field in last year's season opener, Sept. 7, 2024.
• The win marks the first for the Vikes on the Thunderbirds' home field since Sept. 18, 2016, a 47-17 win at UBC.
• The Vikes open the year with a 1-0 record, while UBC starts the season at 0-1.

Victoria will host the University of Calgary for the annual Jenny Vincent Memorial Game and home-opening contest Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. Get your tickets here.