RUG 7s: UBC claims victory in Edmonton for the third-consecutive year

Recap by Aly Andersen, UofA Athletics

EDMONTON – The three-time defending Canada West Rugby 7s Champions defeated their rival Victoria Vikes 22-7, claiming top spot at the University of Alberta Tournament. It is UBC’s fourth time winning the opening stop of the 7s calendar, also winning in Edmonton in 2019, 2023 and 2025. 

Leading the charge for UBC was Adia Pye, who recorded a try in nearly every match played, only being held off the scoresheet in their Day 1 win over the Trinity Western Spartans. Pye’s two critical first-half tries in their final victory over Victoria helped solidify the team's 5-0 record, and gave her a total of nine tries on the weekend to lead all players. UBC has now won 30-straight 7s contests, which include a perfect 15-0 record in 2025, and a 10-game win-streak to close out the 2024 season. 

It was a tough day in the dome for the Vikes, having fallen to the Thunderbirds in the final, following an early morning scare against the Alberta Pandas, who took advantage of a Vikes yellow card in the first half to lead 14-7. However, the Pandas lead would be short-lived as Ivy Poetker would add two more tries to her name, bring her weekend series total to seven, and give the Vikes a 28-14 come-from-behind victory.

The Trinity Western Spartans placed third behind their provincial rivals, closing out the weekend with a 3-2 record, beating all three Alberta-based teams, including a dominant 38-5 win over Alberta in the afternoon session. 

With the Lethbridge Pronghorns looking not to leave empty-handed, they took on the Calgary Dinos, with both teams leaving everything on the turf in a match-up full of line breaks and heavy hits. It seemed to be all Horns in the first half, jumping out to a quick lead, but the Dinos would come back from extinction in the second half to win 21-17, capped off by a 60-yard sprint from Julia McEwan before the final whistle. The Dinos placed fourth with a 2-3 record, followed by the Pandas at 1-5, and the Pronghorns at 0-6.

All six teams will have two weeks to rest and strategize before reconvening in Victoria, BC, on Feb. 7 and 8 as the Vikes play host for tournament two.

 CW RUGBY 7s STANDINGS

* Win - 4 Points / Draw - 2 Points / Loss - 1 Point / No Show - 0 points

ROUND 4

Game 10: Trinity Western (26) vs Lethbridge Pronghorns (14)

Scoring Summary:

TWU try - #7 Kelsa Kempf (convert missed) 5-0 TWU

TWU try - #4 Matisan Kelly (#9 Kamryn Howlett convert) 12-0 TWU

HALF

LET try - #14 Millie Teskey (#11 Jayda Morrison convert) 12-7 TWU

TWU try - #6 Ava Van Santen (#16 Jenna De Greef convert) 19-7 TWU

LET try - #1 Molly Aellen (#10 Lucy Finnson convert) 19-14 TWU

TWU try - #5 Sierra Hamilton (#16 Jenna De Greef convert) 26-14 TWU

Game 11: Victoria Vikes (28) vs Alberta Pandas (14)

Scoring Summary:

VIC try - #10 Emilie Brett (#13 Maggie Mackinnon convert) 7-0 VIC

ALB try - #6 Fiea Marsh (#10 Kate Alcock convert) 7-7

ALB try - #2 Anéla Hébert (#10 Kate Alcock convert) 14-7 ALB

HALF

VIC try - #11 Ivy Poetker (#13 Maggie Mackinnon convert) 14-14

VIC try - #12 Vanessa Chiapetta (#12 Vanessa Chiapetta convert) 21-14 VIC

VIC try - #11 Ivy Poetker (#13 Maggie Mackinnon convert) 28-14 VIC

Game 12: UBC Thunderbirds (17) vs Calgary Dinos (0)

Scoring Summary: 

UBC try - #6 Adia Pye (convert missed) 5-0 UBC

UBC try - #10 Lana Dueck (convert missed) 10-0 UBC

HALF

UBC try - #6 Adia Pye (#21 Olivia Sahabura convert) 17-0 UBC

ROUND 5 

Game 13: Trinity Western Spartans (38) vs Alberta Pandas (5)

Scoring Summary:

TWU try - #6 Ava Van Santen (convert missed) 5-0 TWU

TWU try - #7 Kelsa Kempf (#9 Kamryn Howlett convert) 12-0 TWU

TWU try - #7 Kelsa Kempf (#16 Jenna De Greef convert) 19-0 TWU

HALF

TWU try - #9 Kamryn Howlett (#9 Kamryn Howlett convert) 26-0 TWU

TWU try - #6 Ava Van Santen (convert missed) 31-0 TWU

TWU try - #16 Jenna De Greef (#9 Kamryn Howlett convert) 38-0 TWU

ALB try - #14 Nina McLaren (convert missed) 38-5 TWU

Game 14: Calgary Dinos (21) vs Lethbridge Pronghorns (17)

Scoring Summary: 

LET try - #14 Millie Teskey (convert missed) 5-0 LET

LET try - #1 Molly Aellen (#11 Jayda Morrison convert) 12-0 LET

CGY try - #11 Makayla Joseph (#9 Maria Florez convert) 12-7 LET

LET try - #3 Seqhiya Simmons (convert missed) 17-7 LET

HALF

CGY try - #3 Larae Benoit (#4 Jada Hepfner convert) 17-14 LET

CGY try - #14 Maori De Jesus-Gilhula (#12 Danyka Labelle convert) 21-17 CGY

Game 15: UBC Thunderbirds (22) vs Victoria Vikes (7) 

Scoring Summary:

UBC try - #6 Adia Pye (#21 Olivia Sahabura convert) 7-0 UBC

UBC try - #21 Olivia Sahabura (convert missed) 12-0 UBC

UBC try - #6 Adia Pye (convert missed) 17-0 UBC

HALF

VIC try - #14 Olivia Newsome (#14 Olivia Newsome convert) 17-7 UBC

UBC try - #10 Lana Dueck (convert missed) 22-7 UBC