They are 3,567 kilometres away from their own pitch, but at least one member of the Queen's Gaels will have a home-field feel to the CIS women's soccer nationals.
Gaels defender Meredith Raddysh, recruited out of Saltspring Island, is back home looking for a third straight national crown.
The fourth-year backup defender had a smile on her face throughout Wednesday's final preparations.
"It's great coming home. We practiced on UVic turf on [Tuesday] night and it felt like I was playing U-14 or U-15," said Raddysh, who was injured in her second year at Queen's or this would be her fourth straight appearance at nationals.
And she'll have a rooting section of her own as family plan to attend the four-day event at Centennial Stadium.
"Both my parents [Jim and Judy] are coming over to watch and I have a cousin in Duncan and an aunt [Pam Smith] here in Victoria."
Raddysh was born in Prince George, but moved to Saltspring at age eight. She opted to attend university out east, choosing Queen's over Guelph.
"It's been incredible and its such a great group of girls, it's such a great team feel," she said.
DAVID NOT SEEING RED: Victoria Vikes head coach Tracy David will indeed be on the sidelines for the team's opener tonight at 7 vs. Sherbrooke, despite being shown a red card in the 50th minute of a 2-1 loss in the sa国际传媒 West final on Saturday against Trinity Western.
David had questioned a foul that went undetected in the 50th minute as Carly Branion-Calles was taken down without a call.
Under her breath she colourfully queried the non-decision as she strolled back to her bench and that's when the fourth official had her booked. But the card was later overturned and will not carry through to CIS play.
It was David's first ejection in 26 years of coaching sa国际传媒 West soccer and she can now concentrate on preparing her team.
Just what will it take?
"If you're looking to win a national championship you have to keep the score at your end of the pitch at zero so that it just takes one at the other end to win," David offered. "That's going to be key, it's going to be huge for us. Last week-end at Trinity we allowed two goals and found it difficult to score three to win."
EASTERN INVASION: The Vikes, both women and men, were shut out of any All-Canadian soccer recognition.
Ottawa's Gillian Baggott was named player of the year at the CIS banquet on Wednesday at the Harbour Towers hotel. York's Nour Ghoneim was the top rookie; Alana Fairfax of Acadia claimed the student-athlete community service award; and Cape Breton's Stephen Timmons was named coach of the year.
