A shootout loss to the UBC Thunderbirds ended what was a great UVic Vikes field hockey season on Sunday.
The visiting Thunderbirds scored a late goal to make it 2-2 and send it to a shootout at the UVic Field Hockey turf. That’s where the T-Birds outdid the Vikes 3-1 to win the McCrae Cup national field hockey championship.
UVic earned free play goals from Lizzie Yates in the first half and Rosie Beale in the second half, while third-year keeper Larissa Piva came up with critical saves in regular time and a memorable save on Championship MVP Hannah Haughn in the shootout.
Vike Kathleen Leahy won the Gail Wilson Award (outstanding contributor) and was named to the CIS All-Canadian team. Coach Lynne Beecroft was named the CIS Coach of the Year.
Vikes earn championship berth
Despite coming up short in Saturday's Canada West Final, the UVic Vikes men's soccer team is headed to the CIS Championship at York University in Toronto, Nov. 12-15.
The Vikes took an early lead against the UBC Thunderbirds in Saturday's Canada West conference final, at Thunderbird stadium in Vancouver, with a goal by Canada West season MVP Cam Hundal at the 16 minute mark. But the T-Birds prevailed 2-1 in extra time on the winner from Chris Serban.
It'll be the Vikes first appearance in the CIS championship since the team hosted and won it four years ago.
Hundal was a rookie when he was named the 2011 CIS Championship MVP.
"It will be a new experience not playing at home and that's what we want to do," Hundal said. "We want to play the best teams in the country and we've done well to get to this position and we have a strong squad to do so."
The Vikes will face the University of New Brunswick Reds at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, streamed online at CIS-SIC.tv.
The Vikes qualified in Friday's 2-1 win over the Trinity Western Spartans on a late goal from midfielder Sam Prette (Claremont secondary). Michael Baart (St. Michaels University School) scored the other goal for the Vikes in that game.
Vikes fifth at rugby nationals
The UVic Vikes ended the CIS women's rugby championship with two straight wins, to finish fifth overall among the eight participating schools.
The Vikes lost the opening game to Concordia 34-12 but rebounded to defeat No. 1 seed Acadia 55-12.
On Sunday the Vikes defeated the Lethbridge Pronghorns 27-24 to win the consolation bracket. It was a rematch of the recent Canada West Final which the Vikes won 50-17.
Rookie back-rower Pam Buisa led the Vikes over the Pronghorns with two tries and CIS all-Canadian Jess Neilson (fly half) hit two penalty kicks and all three try conversions. Forward Jennifer Appleby also scored a try for the Vikes.
"I'm happy for the girls coming back with two wins after that opening-day loss," said Vikes coach Brittany Waters, who earned the Canada West coach of the year award in her rookie season. "It's difficult to do, but coming fifth was our championship game and I'm proud of the fight they had."
Vike sensation Gabrielle Senft (No. 8) was named the CIS Rookie of the Year at the award banquets. Neilson is the only fly-half named to the first CIS All-Canadian team and Senft the only No. 8 on the second All-Canadian team.
Striker ends Vikes career as MVP
Prolific goal scorer Emma Greig leaves the UVic Vikes as the Canada West MVP though her team fell short of the CIS women's soccer championship.
The Vikes women suffered a season-ending 2-1 loss to the Calgary Dinos in the opening game of the Canada West playoffs in Saskatoon on Friday. Elise Butler scored the Vikes only goal in the match.
It ends the five-year career of Tofino's Greig and Claremont secondary's Shannon Elder.
Greig was named a Canada West first team all-star and Vikes goalie Meghan Storie a second team all-star.