CALGARY - After an early lesson this past weekend at the hands of the two-time defending CIS champions Lethbridge Pronghorns by a lopsided score of 66-0, the University of Calgary Dinos rugby team heads to Vancouver and Victoria with eyes on their first CIS victory.

Drawing the short straw in the schedule department, the Dinos were forced to play the Pronghorns in their first ever game in Canada West and CIS, and saw just how high they need to climb in order to get to the top. The 'Horns got points from all over against the Dinos, with eight different players scoring tries on the afternoon, and managed three converts despite testy Lethbridge winds.

Calgary will be looking for their first points of the season in B.C. this weekend, and will be looking at players such as Kim Gould, an eight for the Dinos, and scrum half Lizzie McKinnon to help shoulder the scoring load.

The Dinos head to Vancouver on Friday to play the T-Birds, who were recently blanked by the Alberta Pandas, in a match that could be a little bit closer to even for the Dinos. The Birds are led by Radha Jain, a 2008 All-Canadian centre.

The story to watch for however will be how Sunday's game plays out in Victoria. There will be much on the line for the Vikes in this match, as this could be their best chance in years in trying to reverse a four year CIS losing streak. Of course, the Dinos would certainly prefer to defer the honour of ending such a losing streak, and could be looking for their inaugural victory as well if their game against UBC doesn't work out.

The Vikes are led by Jesse Olynyk and Chelsey Minter, who each spent some time with the U-20 national team this summer, and have a host of recruits looking to help the cause.

The Dinos have a bye over Thanksgiving weekend before closing out the season with their first-ever home game on Friday, Oct. 16 against the Alberta Pandas on Field 7, just west of the Olympic Oval.

-UC-