EDMONTON - The No.7 ranked University of Alberta Pandas' rugby team closed out the regular season with their third win in four games, defeating the Calgary Dinos 25-10 at the Strathcona Druids Rugby Park just outside of Edmonton.

Third-year Panda Louise Chavarie scored three tries on Sunday afternoon, while Alberta scoring leader Karlee Carbert and Chelsea Guthrie also scored for Alberta.  All five tries went unconverted, although the Pandas were unlucky not to convert their second attempt, which struck the upright and bounced out.

Calgary received tries from Elizabeth MacKinnon, her team-leading third of the season, and Amanda Williams.

With the win, Alberta finishes second in Canada West with a 3-1 record, while Calgary claims third with a 2-2 mark.  The two programs will now clash in the first semi-final of the Canada West championship, October 21-23 in Calgary.  Since only one team from the west advances to the CIS championship in Peterborough, ON, hosted by Trent University, it's a "win and you're in" format next weekend in Calgary.

The 2-2 record is a marked improvement for a Dinos club that went 0-4 last season and lost their only game against Alberta 78-0.

On Sunday afternoon, it actually appeared as though the Pandas were going to run away with the win once again, as they scored three tries in the opening 20 minutes of the game.  Chavarie scored first for the Pandas, her first of the season, as Alberta wore down Calgary's defence and eventually punched it in near the right side corner.

Carbert, the Canada West scoring leader last season, scored minutes later when she sped straight through the middle of the pitch, as well as past and through a number of would-be Dino tacklers, for the uncontested try.

Guthrie made it 15-0 five minutes later, but before it could get out of hand, the Dinos stepped up their play considerably and scored both of their tries before the halftime whistle.

MacKinnon scored first for the Dinos, capping off a series that saw the southern Alberta team spend up to 10 minutes in the Pandas half.  Although the U of A defence made several goal line stops, MacKinnon was not to be denied, and she slipped past the Pandas for five points.

Williams made it back-to-back tries only minutes before half-time, cutting the deficit to 15-10.

Despite that surge, it would be as close as Calgary would get however, as Chavarie added two more tries in the second half to cement the win for Alberta.

The Green and Gold will now try to make it two wins in a row over the Dinos when they lock horns at the Canada West championship tournament, Oct. 21-23 in Calgary. Friday's games are slated for Hellard Field at Shouldice Park, while Sunday's bronze and gold medal matches will take place at McMahon Stadium.

The Dinos and Pandas will meet in the second semi-final at 1 p.m. on Friday, with the winner facing the victor in the first semi-final between Lethbridge and Victoria.

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