Vikes take two more national titles

Women's soccer co-captains Marlesa Manson, Carey Gustafson and Jaimie Moore celebrate their victory.

Whether it was on Edmonton's Foote Field or Victoria's Elk Lake, the University of Victoria Vikes were in championship form this fall, winning two more national titles to add to the university's already impressive list of honours.

The UVic Vikes women's soccer team won their first national title last month, blanking the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 3-0 in Edmonton on Nov. 13. The team, which had earned silver and bronze medals in their previous two appearances at the national Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships, earned a berth in the gold medal game with a 2-1 win over the McGill Martlets.

Vikes defender Carey Gustafson was named tournament MVP and earned a place on the All-Canadian second team. Striker Amelie Mercier was named to the first team. Prior to their trip to Edmonton, the Vikes took the silver medal in the Canada West Championships in Calgary, losing 1-0 to the host University of Calgary Dinos in penalty kicks.

Team members also claimed three of five major Canada West awards with Mercier named the most valuable player. Vikes coach Tracy David was named Canada West coach-of-the-year, after guiding her team to a record of 10-4-2 and a second-place finish in the conference. The Vikes also captured the Fair Play Award.

At Elk Lake, the women's rowing team captured the Canadian University Championship, earning their eighth title in the past nine seasons. The Vikes narrowly lost to UBC last year.

The two titles bring UVic's total national athletic championships to 61. Vikes teams have captured 45 CIS banners and 16 Canadian university championship titles.

Meanwhile, in other sports, Vikes men's team rower Mike Lewis has been named male rower-of-the-year and men's coach Howie Campbell is the recipient of the Petro Canada coaching excellence award.

The Vikes men's and women's cross country teams both won bronze medals at the CIS cross country championships last month in Halifax. The Vikes Daniel Mallie was the fastest rookie in the field and was named CIS rookie-of-the -year for his accomplishment. Teammate Kris Swanson and Vikes women's team member Tiffany Evans were both named to the second All-Canadian team. The trio was also named Canada West all-stars, along with teammates Geoff Martinson, Adrienne Attorp and Christina Heisterman.

Vikes women's field hockey midfielder Ali Lee was named the 2005 Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's field hockey player-of-the-year Nov. 10, winning the Liz Hoffman Award, her second major CIS major award in as many seasons. The second-year biochemistry/microbiology student was also named rookie-of-the-year in 2004. Lee and teammate Ali Fraser were named Canada West all stars.

The Vikes men's soccer team just missed out on advancing to the Canada West playoffs, but Cole McFarlane was named rookie-of-the-year and the second team all-star striker in Canada West. Bruce Wilson was chosen coach of the year and the team won the Fair Play Award. Kyle Finner and Will Moore were selected as first team all-stars.

In November, UVic hosted the CIS women's rugby championships and Vike Brittany Waters was named to the tournament's all-star team, while teammate Jenna Waddy was named to the Canada West all-star team.

In ongoing Canada West action, Vikes men's basketball team member Jacob Doerksen was named Canada West athlete-of-the-week for his role in leading UVic in back-to-back victories over the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Nov. 18 and 19. One of Canada West's outstanding rookies, Doerksen racked up 47 points in two games.