VANCOUVER - The University of Calgary Dinos fended off a second-half comeback attempt by the UBC Thunderbirds to remain undefeated on the season, capturing a 27-22 win Friday night.

The Dinos (3-0) wrap up their regular season schedule Sunday in Victoria with a first-place showdown against the Victoria Vikes.

Calgary will host the 2017 Canada West championship Oct. 20-22. Semifinals are set for Friday afternoon at Hellard Field (Shouldice Park), with the championship Sunday at McMahon Stadium.

An unfortunate break for the 'Birds put them in a deficit in the 4th minute. Against the run of play, Calgary's Emmanuel Anye blocked a kick, recovered the ball and ran it to the end zone from 40 yards out.  Cassidy Jones kicked the conversion and it was 7-0 Dinos. 

The Dinos added to their lead in the 9th minute when Jones grabbed the ball out of a ruck and plunged into the end zone.  The conversion attempt hit the uprights making the score 12-0 Dinos. 

Calgary lit up the scoreboard again just minutes later. Some nifty passes across the face off the field resulted in Samantha May having a clear path down the left wing into the scoring area. The conversion was missed and Calgary had jumped out to a 17-0 lead. 

After UBC fly-half Mackenzie Carson sustained an upper body injury, causing her to leave the game, the 'Birds seemed to rally around their fallen captain.  Some determined running and ball movement by the 'Blue and Gold' allowed Alayna Scramstad to dive into the scoring area from three yards out, right underneath the uprights.  Brooke Bazian made the conversion and the score stood at 17-7 Dinos at the half. 

The 'Birds came out flying in the second half. In the 43rd minute, Bazian made a probing run across the half-line, juked a Dinos tackler and blasted into the end zone. Bazian converted her own spectacular work and the Dinos were clinging to a 17-14 lead. 

But Calgary regained the momentum and padded their lead in the 52nd minute when Cassidy Jones' swerving run off the left wing put the Dinos up 22-14. The conversion was pushed wide. 

The 'Birds answered in the 60th minute, when a winding charge through the heart of the Dinos defence by Lyric Atchison made the score 22-19. Bazian was just short on the conversion.

But Calgary stormed right down the field and scored again the 64th minute when some deft passing by the Dinos backfield propelled Charity Corcilles-Harris past the far right pylon.  The conversion as missed and the score was 27-19 Dinos. 

A Bazian penalty kick pulled the 'Birds to within five, setting up a furious final ten minutes. 

But despite relentless pressure from the 'Birds in the Calgary half of the field, they could not make the final push for a deciding score. The referee blew his final whistle and the scoreboard read 27-22 Dinos. 

The four tries on the day for UBC secured an all-important bonus point, giving them seven on the season and earning them a spot in the Canada West playoffs. 

The Dinos, hosts of the conference tournament, will wrap up the regular season Sunday when they take on the Victoria Vikes (3-0) Sunday afternoon in Victoria. The winner will enter the Canada West championship as the top seed.

SCORING SUMMARY 
4th minute - Calgary TRY – Emmanuella Anye (convert by Elysa Sandron) – 7-0 Calgary
9th – Calgary TRY – Cassidy Jones (convert missed) – 12-0 Calgary
13th – Calgary TRY – Samantha May (convert missed) – 17-0 Calgary
38th – UBC TRY – Alayna Scramstad (convert by Brooke Bazian) – 17-7 Calgary

HALFTIME 
43rd – UBC TRY – Brooke Bazian (convert by Brooke Bazian) – 17-14 Calgary
51st – Calgary TRY – Berlyn Seselha (convert by missed) – 22-14 Calgary
59th – UBC TRY – Lyric Atchison (convert missed) – 22-19 Calgary
62nd – Calgary TRY – Charity Corcilles-Herring (convert missed) – 27-19 Calgary 
68th – UBC PENALTY GOAL – Brooke Bazian – 27-22 Calgary

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