EDMONTON – The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns rugby team shocked the previously undefeated Calgary Dinos 35-25 in the first Canada West semi-final on Friday afternoon at Ellerslie Park, and has advanced to both the Canada West gold medal game and the CIS championship tournament.
The win was the first of the season for the 'Horns after a 0-3-1 conference season, while the Dinos received their first taste of defeat on Friday after a perfect 4-0 regular season. Lethbridge, winners of six straight Canada West titles between 2006 and 2011, just squeaked into the conference post-season this season by virtue of having one more point than last place UBC, thanks to rugby's conference standings system which awards points to teams who score more than four tries in one game. Although the 'Horns and Thunderbirds each finished identical 0-3-1 records, worth two points in the standings thanks to their respective ties, the Southern Alberta squad picked up an extra point during their 40-22 loss to Victoria in which they scored four tries.
Now, thanks to a stunning second half that saw Lethbridge score four converted tries in a span of 29 minutes, the Horns and Vikes will clash for the Canada West championship for the first time in conference history.
"The credit goes to the players, of course, and my hat is off to Calgary because they are one of the best teams in the country," said first year Pronhorns coach Ric Suggitt. "Today we managed to be in the right spots at the right time where we could make plays, and credit to the girls for making those plays when they were in those positions."
The Pronghorns got tries from Hailey Driscoll and a pair from Nicole Ronsky, but none were bigger than the tries by fourth-year Sarah Gordon and rookie Melissa Bass.
Trailing 25-21 and approaching the 70th minute, Gordon struck first when she made an incredibly athletic interception at mid field and then sprinted, untouched, 45 yards for a try right under the goal posts. She then kicked the convert to give Lethbridge a 28-25 lead.
Not three minutes later, and again at mid field, the Pronghorns intercepted another Dinos pass, as Bass snagged the errant pass and raced the 45 yards uncontested to score the try, which again was in the dead centre of the field.
After Gordon's convert, her fifth of the day and 15th point, Lethbridge's defence took over and held the Dinos to possession but no scores, cementing the upset victory in the process and sending Lethbridge back to the Canada West championship match, which will be their first appearance since winning in 2011.
Calgary, meanwhile, is off to the bronze medal game after three consecutive seasons in the gold medal game, each one resulting in the silver medal.
The Dinos had built up a 20-7 lead at half-time, thanks to tries from Kasselle Menin and DaLeaka Menin and a pair from fourth-year Natasha Loucks, but were outscored 28-5 in the second half thanks to Lethbridge's superior play from the backs. Ronsky, in particular, was very effective for Lethbridge, running hard along the lines, breaking tackles and scoring on back-to-back tries to start the second half.
Jenna Morrison also scored in the second half, putting Calgary up 25-21, but Gordon absolutely ripped the life out of the Dinos seven minutes later with her interception and uncontested try.
"As a long-time coach, I've coached a lot of great players in my time and Sarah Gordon ranks right up near the top of my list," praised Suggitt. "She is intelligent and courageous, and she reminds me a little bit of Morgan Williams which is not a compliment I throw around lightly."
"Ronsky was great today as well," continued Suggitt, "she got the ball when she needed to get it and broke quite a few tackles and was really running hard. And our forwards did a great job as well, which is really saying something because Calgary's forwards group is in a class of its own."
