Alexis Creek’s Emma Feldinger wasted little time making her presence felt in her debut as a member of the University of British Columbia Thunderbird’s varsity women’s rugby team.
The former under-18 Canadian national team member slashed her way into the try zone in the dying moments of the team’s first regular season game Sept. 9 to help lift the Thunderbirds to a 26-24 upset over the highly-touted Victoria Vikes. Feldinger’s game-winning try was converted in the 71st minute of play.
READ MORE: Feldinger commits to Thunderbirds for next fall’s rugby season
It was the first game of the season for both sides.
Victoria was rated as the top team in the Canada West conference by the league’s coaches in a preseason poll.
UBC was selected fourth.
Victoria came into the game ranked ninth in U SPORTS (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport). They are no longer ranked according to a top-10 national poll issued last week.
The win was also a huge turnaround from their meeting last year where Victoria hammered the T-birds, 82-0.
Feldinger’s momentum was slowed down, somewhat, in the team’s week-two, 22-7 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns, when the first-year lock suffered an injury, but said she’s hoping to return to the pitch soon.
READ MORE: Lakecity players Emma Feldinger and madison Blusson part of Team BC
Prior to the season Feldinger told the Tribune she was looking forward to the opportunity to compete at UBC.
“The UBC head coach, Maria Gallo, I’ve known her since she coached me at the U16 [BC] level,” Feldinger said. “She’s very energetic and intense, and very passionate about rugby, which is really nice.”
Also joining Feldinger on the Thunderbird’s roster is Lake City Falcons graduate Madison Blusson.
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