Men’s
Basketball
The men’s Vikes basketball team has gotten off to a wicked start going 5-2 in preseason competition and look to follow it up with another CIS final-eight appearance. After sweeping their season-opening weekend in the Prairies, the Vikes look hot heading into their home opener on Nov. 8, 2013, against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.
Key players: Terrell Evans and Chris McLaughlin
Soccer
The men’s soccer team held a 10-3-1 record this season, which included two four-game win streaks. When this team was hot, they could tangle with the best in the Canada West. The Vikes suffered a pair of losses this weekend in the Canada West Championships, which ended their CIS run until next year.
Key players: Cam Hundal and Cameron Stokes
Rugby
As per usual, the Vikes men’s rugby squad is looking good and hopes to put an exclamation point on the fall with a Barnard Cup win. The team is 5-1 this season and perfect at home. Expect them to challenge for the Barnard Cup on Nov. 30, 2013, and for the premiership title in April.
Key Players: Fergus Hall and Patrick Kay
Field Hockey
With only one win to their name this fall to accompany their heap of losses, The Vikes men’s field hockey team has little to be excited about. The lone bright spot comes in their youth. Almost half of the team is second year or younger. They can be caught in action at home on Nov. 9 2013. This team will certainly grow together and look to improve throughout the second half of the season.
Key players: Tyler Klenk and Trevor Feehan
Rowing
The Vikes men’s varsity eights team has rowed to back-to-back victories and looks to remain hot as Canadian Nationals approach. UVic captured gold at the annual Head of the Elk and Head of the Gorge regattas in late October and rowed to a third place finish at the Canadian University Championships last week in Montreal.
Golf
With a new head coach in Justin Clews, the UVic golf team is revitalized, young and hitting the ball well. With a team victory at the Canada West Championships and individual top-10 finishes galore, the Vikes finished the fall season in strong fashion and are looking forward to a bevvy of challenging spring and summer events.
Key golfers: Bruce Tomie and Eric Praught
Cross-Country
As the Vikes get set for the CIS Cross-Country Championships taking place in London, Ontario, on Nov. 9, 2013, they look to build on their fall races. The Vikes cross-country squad have tested themselves in Oregon, California and Washington this fall and recently had the best individual result at the B.C. Championships in Abbotsford. All that work will pay off if they can bring it home in London this weekend.
Key runners: Ryan Cassidy and Benjamin Weir
Women’s
Basketball
After suffering a loss to the University of Regina in last year’s playoffs, the Vikes are back with a vengeance. They won the UVic Invitational in October and are looking like contenders to scramble back to the final eight. With a solid mélange of new players and veterans, coach Dani Sinclair has this bunch primed and ready to hit the court. After splitting this weekend in the Prairies, they look forward to their home-opener this coming weekend.
Key players: Jenna Bugiardini and Jessica Renfrew
Soccer
When you talk about top soccer programs in the country, you have to include the Vikes near the top of your list. With only two losses in the regular season, neither of which took place at Centennial Stadium, the Vikes looked as strong as ever heading into the Canada West Championships. The Vikes suffered a loss against Trinity Western and rebounded to capture bronze. The result was not good enough to qualify them for the CIS Championships.
Key players: Jaclyn Sawicki and Emma Greig
Rugby
After a hot start, the injury-plagued Vikes women’s rugby squad dropped their final three Canada West outings and failed to qualify for the CIS National Championships. There is still plenty of rugby to be played as they enter their club season. The Vikes dominated Cowichan 84-5 to kick off the BCRU season.
Key players: Kara Galbraith and Jaiden Parhar
Field Hockey
UVic not only qualified for Nationals in women’s field hockey, they had an undefeated season and hosted the 2013 CIS Championship. With a stellar season and a Canadian Western banner under their belt, the Vikes looked untouchable heading into the CIS Championships at home. The UBC Thunderbirds beat UVic twice last weekend, earning the gold and leaving this young Vikes squad with an admirable silver medal to cap off an excellent season.
Key players: Kyla Kirby and Kathleen Leahy
Rowing
Like their male counterparts, the Vikes women’s eights team raced to a first place finish at the Head of the Gorge and proceeded to come second at the Head of the Elk. With a second place at the Western Canadian Championship, and a third place at the Canadian University Rowing Championships last week, the Vikes look strong heading into the National Rowing Championships on Nov. 9, 2013.
Golf
The Vikes women’s golf team has wrapped up its fall season and is prepared for the spring. The women had a stellar fall season, capped off with a sixth place finish at the Dennis Rose invitational in Hawaii. With rising stars and strong returning veterans, the Vikes look to show well in the spring.
Key golfers: Brynn Tomie and Megan Woodland
