Thunderbirds soar past Vikes

The University of Victoria Vikes men’s soccer team (3-6-1) was humbled 5-0 on its home field Wednesday evening by the UBC Thunderbirds in Canada West action at Centennial Stadium.

The U Sports national No. 5-ranked Thunderbirds lived up to their ranking and moved to 7-2-1 ahead of Saturday’s rematch fixture against the Vikes in Vancouver.

UBC got goals from Kyle Sohi, Zach Verhoven, Mihai Hodut, Ryan Arthur and Rylan Sangha on Wednesday as the Thunderbirds took a 3-0 lead into the halftime break.

Paulo Dait was named UVic player of the game and Mackenzie Cole the UBC top player of the game.

The UVic women’s soccer team, meanwhile, is No. 6 in the U Sports national rankings and on a six-game winning streak. The Vikes are in Vancouver tonight to take on the national No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds in a key game. Both teams are 7-1-1 and this result will go a long way in deciding the champion of the Pacific Division of the Canada West conference.

Meanwhile, the UVic Vikes defeated the Bishop’s Gaiters of Lennoxville, Que., 92-84 in U Sports men’s pre-season basketball action Wednesday night at the Belmont Secondary School gymnasium.

UVic led 50-42 at the half and is now 2-2 in the exhibition season.

The Vikes continue the preseason with a game against the University of Waterloo Warriors on Sunday at UBC’s War Memorial Gymnasium.