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Vikes’ midfielder Shannon Elder winning ultimate battle

The University of Victoria has produced many great athletes over the years, including numerous Olympians, but few if any Vikes have fashioned a comeback as compelling as that of soccer player Shannon Elder. It continues when CIS No.
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After two surgeries to beat cancer, Shannon Elder is back patrolling the midfield for the UVic Vikes.

The University of Victoria has produced many great athletes over the years, including numerous Olympians, but few if any Vikes have fashioned a comeback as compelling as that of soccer player Shannon Elder.

It continues when CIS No. 6-ranked UVic (7-1-2) winds up the home portion of the Canada West women’s regular season tonight against the UBC Thunderbirds (5-3-2) and Saturday against the CIS No. 10 Fraser Valley Cascades (7-1-2), with both games at 5 p.m. at Centennial Stadium. They will be followed by the Canada West men’s soccer games pitting Bruce Wilson’s CIS No. 6 Vikes (6-1-3) against CIS No. 2 UBC (9-1) and Fraser Valley (5-4-1) at 7:15 both nights.

The fact Elder, who re-joined the Vikes mid-season, is even playing tonight is remarkable in itself.

The 21-year-old graduate of Claremont Secondary couldn’t figure out why, as a fit varsity athlete, she was suddenly so fatigued during the annual Keg Cup tournament last spring. Then she collapsed in her bedroom in May and had to be rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. The diagnosis was Endometrial stromal sarcoma, a rare uterine cancer.

After a second surgery in June, few thought they would see Elder back on the field for the 2014 Canada West season. But here she is, defying almost every expectation but her own. She used the prospect of returning this season as her own personal recovery benchmark.

“I was quite determined. I thought it was important to get back to school and back to soccer, so I set that goal for myself,” said Elder, who will be checked by doctors every three months for the next four years.

“A lot of people, and they were all well meaning, were concerned whether I would or even should. People hear the word cancer and get scared.”

Elder, a fourth-year Vikes midfielder and nursing student, has been eased into the lineup the last five games with her minutes growing with each outing, and has a goal.

“I definitely think we can make it to CIS nationals . . . we have a good squad,” said Elder.

That she is back as part of it is, in some ways, the story of the season.

“Shannon is such an inspirational player . . . such an inspirational woman,” said Vikes coach Tracy David.

“She always believed she could come back and play in 2014. She is so positive and upbeat and never let go of her dream of being back for this season.”

Elder’s Vikes teammates, including sister and second-year midfielder Megan Elder, rallied around her hospital bed and are now doing the same on the field.

“Shannon is such a trooper and really great human being,” said Vikes midfielder Carlita Branion-Calles.

“She is the most positive person I’ve ever met,” added UVic defender Lindsay Machin.

“She wanted to be back and we supported her.”

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com