CALGARY – For the first time since 2009, the University of Alberta Pandas rugby team will host a championship game as they welcome the Calgary Dinos, the Lethbridge Pronghorns, and the UBC Thunderbirds to Edmonton for the Canada West championship tournament.
With just the top team from Canada West advancing to the national championship tournament (Nov. 1-4 at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia), Alberta will look to reclaim the crown as the best in the conference, and do it on home field. The Pandas will play UBC at 11 a.m. on Friday in the opening semi-final game of the championship, while Calgary and Lethbridge will meet in the other semi-final at 1 p.m.. The gold medal match will be on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m., while the bronze medal will be contested at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The Pandas are the most successful women's rugby program in CIS history, having won five straight CIS championships from 1999 to 2003. They also won seven straight Canada West titles between 1999 and 2005, but have a playoff record of 5-8-1 since 2005.
This season, they're undefeated, thanks largely to the contributions of third-year scrum-half Chelsea Guthrie, who has had an MVP-type season. Guthrie, who suited for Canada at the most recent world rugby sevens championship, has six tries this season, which ties her for first in Canada West, as well as 30 points which has her tied for second in conference scoring.
Calgary, meanwhile, has risen up from the third and fourth place ranks to second place in Canada West thanks to a 3-1 record. Their only loss came at the hands of the Pandas, but they did end Lethbridge's 22-game conference winning streak.
Kate Scotland led Canada West in points this season, as she connected on 18 converts to pick up 36 points.
Kelcey Leavitt had six tries and 30 points, while Byranna Walker managed five tries and
Amanda Williams had four.
Although Lethbridge comes in as the six-time defending conference champions, they ended up in third place with a 2-2 record. They face a tough task in Friday's semi-final game versus the Dinos, who are the most improved team in the conference. Calgary handily beat the 'Horns for the first time ever with a 31-18 victory on Sept. 29 in Calgary.
Even though the 'Horns returned a veteran-laden squad, they lost two-time Canada West Player of the Year Kelsey Willoughby, as well as the reigning Canada West rookie of the year Kayla Moleschi, as they are both playing with the Canadian Sevens program. Forward and Canada West all-star Juhee Thompson is also gone from the 'Horns ranks.
Lethbridge will lean heavily on the experience of five fifth-year seniors who have never lost a game at the conference championships in their career. Four-time Canada West all-star prop Brandi Van Euewen, captain Kendra Reeves, scrum half Alex Hendricks, fly half Laura Murphy-Burke, and prop Gen Ahart will attempt to right the Pronghorn ship.
Third-year wing Paula Woynarowski has put together a breakout campaign, leading the 'Horns in tries scored with five, while sophomore Cassandra Orr scored four tries this year to finish second in team scoring.
The UBC Thunderbirds come into the tournament with a 1-3 record, having lost to Alberta, Calgary, and Lethbridge, but beating Victoria.
Third-year Catherine Ohler led the Thunderbirds in points with nine, while Hayley Glendenning, Sagal-Maria Kahin, and Annabel Arnott also found their way onto the scoresheet for UBC.
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