EDMONTON – A second-half try from
Kasselle Menin broke a 12-12 deadlock, as the University of Calgary Dinos advanced to the Canada West Final with a 19-12 win over the Alberta Pandas in the conference semifinal on Friday afternoon at Foote Field.
The win was the third for the Dinos over the Pandas this season, who advance to their third-straight conference final. With the win, Calgary also qualifies for the 2018 U SPORTS Championship, hosted in Wolfsville, NS by Acadia University.
"That is the goal, you want to be able to represent Canada West at the national championship." said Dinos head coach
Simon Chi. "Every time we come here to Edmonton the games seem to get closer and closer. It was a heck of a game. It came down to the last minute, and it was just a matter of digging in, and making right plays at the right time."
The host Pandas, who concluded conference play with a 2-4 record, opened the semifinal the better side. A couple quick passes inside Calgary territory set up fifth-year Panda Alanna Fittes, who raced into the endzone from 20 yards out. A successful convert from Ali Wicklum gave Alberta a 7-0 lead in the eighth minute.
The Dinos stormed back later in the first half, with back-to-back tries giving the No. 1 seed their first lead.
Coralyn Cafaro plunged into the Pandas end from three yards out in the 23rd minute, before a convert from
Elysa Sandron tied the game at 7-7.
Just four minutes later, Grace Campell extended the Dino lead to 12-7 with a convert of her own.
The Pandas levelled the match late in the first half, with another quick series of passes setting up a long try. Wicklum's long run set up Emily Brown, who raced in for a try from the 35-yard line. A missed convert kept the match squared at 12-12, which held into halftime.
Similar to their regular season meeting two weeks ago, the Dinos controlled possession in the second half, leading to another victory.
Kasselle Menin capitalized on the Dinos dominance, restoring the Dino lead in the 55th minute. Sandron hit her second convert of the match, extending the lead to 19-12.
"You would hope we would've learned from the last game, that we needed to hold on to the ball a lot more." continued Chi. "Still some carless errors in their half, and the Pandas were able to capitalize. It was another tight game. But that's what playoff rugby is all about, it was a great game. We were able to settle in a lot more in the second, and get the win."
The Dinos will face the Victoria Vikes in the championship match at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The Pandas, meanwhile, will play the UBC Thunderbirds in the bronze medal match at 11:00 a.m.
FINAL
1 2 F
ALB- 12 0 12
CGY- 12 7 19
Scoring Summary
8': ALB Try - #13 Alanna Fittes (#15 Ali Wicklum Convert) 7-0
23': CGY Try - #7
Coralyn Cafaro (#15
Elysa Sandron Convert) 7-7
27': CGY Try - #12
Grace Campbell (Convert Missed) 12-7
38': ALB Try - #11 Emily Brown (Convert Missed) 12-12
HALFTIME
55': CGY Try - #4
Kasselle Menin (#15
Elysa Sandron Convert) 19-12
