EDMONTON - The No. 4-ranked University of Calgary Dinos rugby team scored 22 points in the second half to beat the home Alberta Pandas 34-26, Sunday afternoon at Foote Field. 

The Pandas held a slim 14-12 lead at half, but allowed four second-half tries by the Dinos. Temitope Ogunjimi scored twice, while DaLeaka Menin, Kaselle Menin, Breanne Morgan, and Emmanuella Anye also earned tries on Sunday. Elysa Sandron added two converts for Calgary. 

Rookie Panda Courtney Holtkamp was impressive in her season debut, scoring a pair of tries, including a 35-yard rush in the second half. Ferris Sandboe, and Athea Volpe also recorded tries, while Ali Wicklum added three converts. 

The win vaults the Dinos into a tie for first place in Canada West with a perfect 2-0 record, while the Pandas fall to 0-3 in 2017. 

Coming off an impressive 42-15 win over Lethbridge in their only game last weekend, the Dinos showed their class early on against Alberta, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes. Ogunjimi scored the opening try in the 4th minute, with a Sandron convert giving them an early 7-0 lead. K. Menin added to that Dino lead in the 20th, finally getting over the end-line in the Dinos third chance in as many minutes. 

The Pandas finally started to gain some momentum in the later part of the first half, owning the ball in the Calgary half for the better part of 10 minutes. Volpe finally made the ball possession count, scoring her first try of the season in the 32 minute. Holtkamp gave Alberta their first lead of the match just eight minutes later, scoring from 10 yards out in the 40th minute. 

The two Alberta rivals continued to trade scoring plays in the second half, with a pair of early Dinos tries - the first by Anye, the second by Ogunjimi - gave them a 22-14 lead after 58 minutes. 

The Pandas came within one with a 61st minute try, as Holtkamp broke a pair of Dino tackles, rushing for a highlight reel 35-yard try. However, the Dinos quickly turned the ball over off the kick, with the D. Menin try just four minutes later regaining their six-point lead. Sandboe and Morgan exchanged tries late, with the Dinos holding out in the dying minutes for the eight-point win. 

The Pandas will travel to Lethbridge for their final conference game of the season, visiting the Pronghorns on October 14th. Calgary, meanwhile, will visit the UBC Thunderbirds and Victoria Vikes next weekend. 

SCORING SUMMARY
First Half
4th - Calgary Try (#8 Temitope Ogunjimi), Convert GOOD (#15 Elysa Sandron) 7-0 CGY
20th - Calgary Try (# 5 Kasselle Menin), Convert MISSED - 12-0 CGY
32nd - Alberta Try (#9 Athea Volpe), Convert GOOD (#15 Ali Aicklum) 12-7 CGY
40th - Alberta Try (#8 Courtney Holtkamp), Convert GOOD (#15 Ali Wicklum) 14-12 ALB

Second Half
49th - Calgary Try (#14 Emmanuella Anye), Convert Missed - 17-14 CGY
58th - Calgary Try (#8 Temitope Ogunjimi), Convert Missed - 22-14 CGY
61st - Alberta Try (#8 Courtney Holtkamp), Convert GOOD (#15 Ali Wicklum) 22-21 ALB
65th - Calgary Try (#3 DaLeaka Menin), Convert Missed - 27-21 CGY
68th - Alberta Try (#6 Ferris Sandboe), Convert Missed - 27-26 CGY
71st - Calgary Try (#12 Breanne Morgan), Convert GOOD (#15 Elysa Sandron) 34-26 CGY

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