The Vikes walked away with a clean sheet after 0-0 tie against TRU WolfPack, but conversations continue as to whether the women will continue to play the later match of the night
Photo by Justin Morash.
The UVic Vikes women’s soccer team opened the season with a slow, tense match against Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) WolfPack on Sept. 11., marking their first time playing the second match of the night at the annual Thunderfest games.
However, neither team was able to find the scoresheet, ultimately ending in a 0-0 game with no goals.
For the first time, the men’s team kicked off the event at 5 p.m. against TRU, and took home the win 4-0. In 2024, multiple varsity athletes shared with the Martlet a feeling that the men’s team, who have historically played the second match of the night, got the “better slot” and more of the fanfare.
Vikes goalkeeper Stefanie Mocnik earned her first clean sheet — letting no goals in — of the season, defending all 12 shots made by TRU.
Generating goalscoring opportunities was difficult for both sides, as both the Vikes and the WolfPack both boasted a strong midfield, and the WolfPack kept a tight defensive line. Both sides came close to scoring in the final 30 minutes, but each shot sailed to the side or over the net.
In an interview with the Martlet, the women’s team coach Tracy David said, “It’s always been something that our players have wanted.
“The administration agreed with them, and that’s how that happened,” she said.
The Vikes reported 5 000 fans in attendance for the evening’s matches, but attendance dropped somewhat between games, and again at half-time. By the second half of the women’s game, Centennial Stadium was reduced to a smaller, but highly energized, group of fans.
“I think [emotions] are the same whenever we play ThunderFest, whether we play the early or the late game,” said David. “It’s a big event, and we know there are going to be a lot of people there and a little bit of nerves may be kicking in, then lots of excitement.”
“When we play the early game, [we] don’t always have a big crowd right away, they are trickling in through the gate, so by the time it gets to half, you have a big big crowd. Playing the later game, the big crowd is already there … but then the crowd [left] at about half time,” David continued.
David told the Martlet that the switch, which had the women’s team playing after the men’s team, may revert halfway through the season, if not earlier. However, she also said it’s possible the women’s team will continue to play after the men’s for the rest of the year.
“Those discussions are on the table … and each has its benefits,” David said.
David said she would personally prefer the later start time, since it allows her players to have more time between classes and games to eat, rest, and have downtime before having to perform.
The Vikes women’s team reconveined post-ThunderFest on Sept. 16 to debrief the event.
“I think there is some sentiment [from the team], because it’s the men’s game, people are coming to the men’s game and not the women’s game,” David said. “So now, we need to look at how we can change people’s perception or mindset.”
The Vikes Women’s soccer team plays their next fixture against TRU on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m., this time on the WolfPack’s home turf. The game will be livestreamed on canadawest.tv.
