Having missed the playoffs last season, UC started its campaign on the perfect note when Toni Stewart fired home the decisive goal inside the final 10 minutes at the National Hockey Centre.

In his first game in charge, UC women's coach Andrew Bewick admitted it wasn't a perfect performance, but was none the less satisfied to start the season with a win.

"I think there was a bit of rust for 70 minutes,'' Bewick said.

"It was a good test of fitness for both sides as the game deteriorated in the second half.''

UC started out the stronger of the two sides and raced to a 3-1 lead at halftime, Meredith Bone, Reita Holmes and Celina Poon finding the back of the net.

Juanita McDonald scored the lone goal for Old Canberrans in the opening 35 minutes, before Emily O'Shea and Abbey Cambridge got on the scoreboard to get their team back on level terms.

But UC was able to hang on and clinch a morale-boosting victory against a side which was a part of the finals last year.

"Old Canberrans are going to be one of the teams in contention for the top four, so it's pretty important to get points against them,'' Bewick said.

In Sunday's other games, Tuggeranong Valley easily accounted for North Canberra 4-0 and ANU and Central played out an entertaining 1-all draw.

Women's Capital League 1: University of Canberra 4 bt Old Canberrans 3; Tuggeranong Valley 4 bt North Canberra 0; ANU 1 drew Central 1.