CALGARY – The University of Alberta Pandas were the last team to win three consecutive women's rugby titles when they did so from 2012 to 2015. The University of Calgary Dinos will invade Pandas territory this weekend looking to become the latest team with three in a row at the 2018 CW Women's Rugby Championship, Friday and Sunday at Foote Field in Edmonton.
The Dinos will matchup against the Pandas in the first of two semifinal on Friday at 1 p.m., with the late semi featuring UBC and Victoria. Fans can watch every game of the 2018 CW Rugby Championship by tuning into Canada West TV. Rugby tournament passes are available now. Use the promo code WINTHEWEST to save 25% off every playoff and championship pass this season.
The semifinal victors advance to Sunday's gold medal match at 1 p.m., after the other two teams play for bronze at 11 a.m. Both Canada West finalists will earn a berth in the 2018 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship, which will be hosted by Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., Nov. 1-4.
REBOUNDING
Already locked into first place in Canada West, the Dinos rolled into Lethbridge last Thursday looking to extend their regular season win streak to 21 games. Despite being eliminated from the playoffs already, the Pronghorns ended their season on a high, beating the Dinos 23-15 to end Calgary's regular season run. It was the Dinos' first regular season setback since Sept. 19, 2014 when they fell 24-19 to the UBC Thunderbirds.
THE TRY QUEEN
No player in Canada West scored more tries during the regular season than Calgary's
Taejah Thompson. The second-year wing scored nine tries to finish as the conference's top scorer with 45 points. Four Dinos ranked in the top 10 of conference scoring with
Isla Shill third at 33 points,
Kasselle Menin fifth with 25 points, and
Elysa Sandron seventh at 21 points.
FOOTE FEUDS
This weekend is the Dinos' second appearance at Foote Field this season, a venue that seen hard fought wins for Calgary in recent years. The Dinos won at Foote Field 24-10 in their last meeting with the Pandas on Oct. 4 and last year's 34-26 win at Alberta was their closest match in Canada West all season. The Dinos' last loss in Edmonton came in the 2015 Canada West Final Four when the Lethbridge Pronghorns upset them 35-25 in the semfinal at Ellerslie Park.
SCOUTING REPORT
vs ALBERTA PANDAS
Match Info Friday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. – Foote Field
2018 Record 2-4, 4th in Canada West
2018 Leading Scorer(s) Ali Wicklum (2 tries, 2 penalty goals, 13 converts)
NOTES
- The Pandas dropped both their games to the Dinos in the regular season. 25-24 in Calgary on Sept. 16 and 24-10 on Oct. 4 in Edmonton.
- Alberta rebounded from a winless season in 2017. This season they defeated Lethbridge and UBC.
- Jayne Isherwood led the Pandas with four tries this season.
- Ali Wicklum's 42 points in the regular season ranked second in conference scoring behind Calgary's Thompson.
- Alberta is seeking their 11th Canada West women's rugby championship in program history.
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