The work in progress that is the University of Victoria Vikes began the sa国际传媒 West women鈥檚 soccer season with a 1-0 loss to the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday at Centennial Stadium.
鈥淭here are a lot of new faces [12] and we didn鈥檛 have our rhythm quite working yet,鈥� said veteran forward Emma Greig, who has taken on the leadership mantle following the graduation of five starters, including former captain Carlita Branion-Calles and former Canadian U-20 FIFA World Cup international Jaclyn Sawicki.
Jasmin Dhanda鈥檚 goal late in the first half won it for UBC while Victoria-native Olivia de Goede recorded the shutout.
Every team in UVic鈥檚 division is ranked 鈥� Trinity Western is No. 2 in sa国际传媒, Fraser Valley No. 4 and UBC No. 9 鈥� and UVic faces each twice.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be difficult to get out to the big show [CIS national tournament],鈥� admitted Vikes coach Tracy David, whose team was ranked as high as No. 5 in the country last year. 鈥淲e are going to have to outwork the other teams. And I am completely confident we will.鈥�
Across the strait at Thunderbird Stadium, the UVic men鈥檚 team began the conference campaign with a 1-1 draw against CIS national fifth-ranked UBC.
Craig Gorman鈥檚 one-timer from the top of the box, on an assist from Sam Prette, knotted it for UVic at 12 minutes. Gagan Dosanjh had opened scoring for UBC a minute earlier.
Gorman is Vikes鈥� co-captain this season, along with the equally-lethal attacking threat Cam Hundal.
The Vikes, coached by former sa国际传媒 World Cup captain Bruce Wilson, made the conference semifinals last year. UVic was an honourable mention in the 2015 pre-season CIS poll.
