CALGARY – There was high drama at McMahon Stadium as the University of Calgary Dinos won the first playoff game in program history with a 20-15 victory over the University of Victoria Vikes to capture the bronze medal at the 2011 Canada West women's rugby championship at McMahon Stadium.

After Randi Hunter gave the Vikes their first lead of the day at 15-13 midway through the second half, the Dinos began to press for the go-ahead score in a tightly played contest. With just two minutes remaining, the Dinos began a surge about 30 yards out and worked hard to push the ball downfield. With less than 30 seconds remaining, Anna Ahart finally scored the try for the Dinos, and Kate Scotland added a convert to make the final 20-15 – an impressive finish for a Dinos team that hadn't won a game as they entered the 2011 season.

The teams traded tries in the first half, with Lizzie MacKinnon scoring about 15 minutes in to give the Dinos a 5-0 lead before Sarah Logan responded for Victoria to knot it up. The convert attempts on both sides for the first two scores pinged off the upright.

Katherine Procyshyn gave Calgary another lead at 10-0, but again the Vikes came back when Abby Goodwin tied it up at the half-hour mark. Calgary's Scotland split the uprights on a penalty goal chance in the final minute of the first half to give Calgary a 13-10 halftime lead.

In the most evenly-played match of the entire weekend, the Dinos and Vikes went back and forth through the second half before Victoria was finally able to punch it in with 18 minutes remaining. But with the home crowd behind them, the Dinos were able to push downfield for the winning score.

Calgary's Simon Chi was named the Canada West coach of the year following the game after leading the Dinos to a 2-2 record in the regular season, a 1-1 playoff mark, and the bronze medal. Jovita Byzitter of the Dinos was also honoured as the Student-Athlete Community Service award winner.

Calgary's all-stars were prop Samantha Crandell and centre Brynna Walker, while Victoria was represented on the conference all-star team by lock Abby Goodwin.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st Half
CGY – Lizzie MacKinnon try, 5-0 CGY
UVIC – Sarah Logan try, 5-5
CGY – Katherine Procyshyn try, 10-5 CGY
UVIC – Abby Goodwin try, 10-10
CGY – Kate Scotland penalty goal, 13-10 CGY

2nd Half
UVIC – Randy Hunter try, 15-13 UVIC
CGY – Anna Ahart try (Kate Scotland Convert), 20-15 CGY

GOLD MEDAL GAME: Lethbridge 41 Alberta 0

The Lethbridge Pronghorns found the end zone just 40 seconds into the game and rode that momentum to a 41-0 win over the Alberta Pandas to win their sixth consecutive Canada West women's rugby banner.

-UC-