Guelph, ON – The University of Victoria women's rugby team is headed to the U SPORTS championship final after defeating the Laval Rouge et Or 27-24 in a dramatic semifinal that required extra time on Nov. 6.
 
The Vikes imposed their physicality early and built a halftime lead.

• Victoria opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a hard-fought try from Piper Walsh. After a sustained attacking sequence, the Vikes leaned on their power game near the try line, with Walsh's drive proving too much for the Laval defence to stop.
• Laval responded with a penalty goal before Victoria struck again in the 29th minute.
• Olivia Newsome burst through the Laval defensive line on a breakaway run and powered through the final defender near the line to score Victoria's second try of the afternoon.
• Laval answered with a late converted try, but the Vikes carried a 12-10 lead into halftime.

 
Victoria extended its advantage after the break.

• The Vikes came out flying in the second half as Walsh recorded her second try of the match, with Maggie Mackinnon adding the conversion.
• Victoria continued to pressure the Rouge et Or, and Maddy Grant crossed for the Vikes' fourth try after a weaving run by Krissy Scurfield created the opportunity. Scurfield offloaded to Grant, who beat a defender on her way to the try zone.
• The pair of Larah Wright and Walsh repeatedly broke tackles and generated tough metres, helping Victoria establish a 24-10 lead.

 
Laval fought back to force extra time.

• The Rouge et Or refused to go away, scoring twice in the second half to erase the deficit.
• Victoria's defence was relentless near its own try line, forcing Laval to earn every metre as they pushed for an equalizer.
• Laval eventually found the tying try late in regulation, sending the national semifinal into extra time deadlocked at 24-24.

 
The difference came from the boot in extra time.

• Neither side could find a breakthrough during a tense first overtime period.
• After an earlier penalty-goal attempt sailed wide, Victoria continued to press for the winner. In the 87th minute, Elle Douglas stepped up and drilled a drop goal to put the Vikes in front with only three minutes of action left.
• Victoria held firm defensively through the closing moments to secure a place in the national championship match.

 
The Vikes will play for the U SPORTS national championship on Nov. 7, taking on the winner of the UBC Thunderbirds and Guelph Gryphons.