Victoria, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds dropped a tightly contest match to the University of Victoria Vikes, 10-6, Oct. 4 at Wallace Field to end their regular season.
UBC finishes in second place in Canada West as conference play wraps up, sporting a record of 3-2, with both losses coming to Victoria. The Vikes finish with a 5-0 record to sit in first.
The 'Birds were the first on the board, taking a 3-0 lead on a penalty goal from
Brooklyn Roddham in the ninth minute.
The Vikes looked to respond in the 18th minute, when the ball was swung to Olivia Newsome, who broke away downfield. However, a big tackle from
Adia Pye halted Newsome's progress, forcing her to drop the ball and giving UBC possession back. Neither side was able to put points on the board from those opportunities, and the score remained 3-0 in favour of the Thunderbirds.
UBC nearly added points in the final minute of the first half, poaching the ball back from the Vikes and starting their attack. Working their way towards the end line, the 'Birds sent the ball to Pye along the right line, who charged forward but was met by a side tackle from Carissa Norsten that forced her out of bounds and sent the game into halftime with a 3-0 scoreline in favour of the T-Birds.
Norsten attempted to put the Vikes on the board in the second half, receiving a UBC kick in the 60th minute and weaving through oncoming defenders. Passing the ball out, the Vikes attempted a pack push to get the ball over the line, but UBC held them up and kept the Vikes off the board.
Undeterred, the Vikes found their first points of the day two minutes later. A run from Larah Wright brought the Vikes near the line, but a quick offload to Sierra Gillis resulted in the first try of the day and 5-3 Vikes lead in the 62nd minute.
Opting to go for points in the 73rd minute, UBC's Roddham was once again successful on the penalty goal and put UBC back on top, 6-5, with seven minutes to play.
Victoria would have the final say though, sending the ball from the left line all the way to the right, with a final pass from Wright to Eden Kilgour who was able to touch the ball down as time expired and seal the win for the Vikes, 10-6.
Both the Thunderbirds and Vikes have secured spots in the Canada West playoffs, set to take place Oct. 16-19 at the University of Alberta.
